Inheritance and characterization of two low linolenic acid EMS-induced McGregor mutant flax (Linum usitatissimum)

Abstract

Mutagens [e.g. EMS (ethyl methane sulphonate)] are sometimes used to generate variability in oil crops when variability is lacking in natural populations, or when strong interspecific crossing barriers prevent hybridization with relatives. It is imperative to conduct genetic studies on beneficial mutants before they can be effectively used in a breeding program. This study was conducted to study the inheritance, and characterize two "apparent" low linolenic acid EMS-induced McGregor flax mutants (E1929 and E1536) that appeared to be quite different from E1747, a linolenic acid deficient McGregor flax mutant which has been extensively studied. Diallele crosses involving 1) E1929, E1536, and McGregor, and 2) E1929, E1536, and E1747 were made. Gas chromatography analyses of fatty acids from seed oil of F1 and F2 populations indicated that E1929 resulted from a reduction in Δ15 desaturase activity, and that the control of the trait is by a single recessive gene. The E1929 gene appears to be allelic to one of the two genes possessed by E1747. E1929 was characterized as a "moderately low linolenic-high oleic acid mutant". E1536 could not be characterized with the available data. Key words: flax, fatty acids, linolenic, Linum

Induced Mutagenesis in UGT74S1 Gene Leads to Stable New Flax Lines with Altered Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside (SDG) Profiles

“…Flaxseed is a health-functional crop and the commercial production of genetically modified flax remains an impediment to conquering such markets (Fofana et al, 2010 ). Mutation breeding is a well-established method in flax improvement and has led to the development of cultivars with reduced linolenic acid (Green and Marshall, 1984 ; Rowland et al, 1995 ; Ntiamoah and Rowland, 1997 ). Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING) is a reverse genetic tool used in functional genomics and crop improvement (McCallum et al, 2000 ; Sikora et al, 2011 ).…”

Transgenic flax/linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) - expectations and reality

“…Glenelg (Green 1986) and cv. McGregor (Ntiamoah & Rowland 1997) with very low content of linolenic acid in seeds. The same method was applied for the creation of low-linolenic linseed Allan and medium linolenic linseed Raciol .…”

“…Glenelg (Green 1986) and cv. McGregor (Ntiamoah & Rowland 1997). Flaxseed with zero percent of α-linolenic could not be obtained by traditional plant breeding methods, but may be achieved through methods of genetic engineering by reducing the activity of delta-15 desaturase (Jain et al 1999).…”

Genetically Engineered Flax: Potential Benefits, Risks, Regulations, and Mitigation of Transgene Movement

“…Flaxseed oil has several industrial applications because of higher levels of ALA compared to other oilseed species including canola ( Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.), safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) or sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.). Currently available flaxseed oil for industrial applications has a maximum 70% of ALA which was achieved by a traditional plant breeding germplasm development program (Ntiamoah and Rowland, 1997). The drying quality of flaxseed oil is useful for industrial applications in manufacturing paints, varnishes, linoleum, printer's ink, and other coatings (Rowland et al, 1995).…”

“…The first strategy was to replace ALA in flax with palmitic acid (Rowland et al, 1995). The level of ALA (<3.0% ALA) in linseed oil by traditional mutation breeding methods has been reduced to produce Solin varieties (Rowland, 1991; Ntiamoah and Rowland, 1997). Zero percent ALA cultivars of flax could not be obtained by traditional plant breeding methods, but may be achieved through genetic engineering methods by reducing the activity of delta‐15 desaturase (Jain et al, 1999).…”