IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF BRASSICA NAPUS F1 HYBRID SEEDS HIGH OLEIC ACID CONTENT AND A REDUCED LINOLENIC ACID CONTENT

摘要

An improved route is provided for producing seeds capable of forming a Brassica napus F1 hybrid via plant breeding wherein the vegetable oil of the seeds exhibits a highly elevated oleic acid (C18:1) content of at least 80 percent by weight (e.g. 80 to 86 percent by weight) and a reduced linolenic acid (C18:3) content of no more than 3 percent by weight (e.g. 1 to 3 percent by weight) based upon the total fatty acid content. The female parent plant (i.e., the seed parent) possesses a homozygous modified FAD-2 gene pair for elevated oleic acid production solely in either the A-genome or the C-genome, and the male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) possesses a homozygous modified FAD-2 gene pair for highly elevated oleic acid production in both the A-genome and the C-genome. Both parent plants also include at least one homozygous modified FAD-3 gene pair for reduced linolenic acid production. An endogenously formed Brassica napus oil is provided that is particularly well suited for use in frying application. Such oil exhibits further stability in view of the low concentration of linolenic acid that concomitantly is produced within the seeds.