IMPROVED OILSEED BRASSICA BEARING AN ENDOGENOUS OIL WITH DESIRABLE LEVELS OF UNSATURATED AND SATURATED FATTY ACIDS

摘要

An improved Brassica oilseed, an improved plant capable of forming the same, and an improved edible endogenous vegetable oil dereived from oilseed Brassica are provided. The edible endogenous vegetable oil of the present invention possesses an improved distribution of fatty acids following crushing and extraction in the absence of hydrogenation or other chemical or physical modification. The alpha-linolenic acid content is less than 3.5 percent by weight, the oleic acid content is at least 77 percent by weight, the total saturated fatty acid content is no more than 4.5 percent by weight, and the erucic acid content is no more than 2 percent by weight based upon the total fatty acid content. Each of the recited characteristics of the oil is controlled by genetic means and surprisingly is simultaneously expressed (e.g., in the field under conventional oilseed Brassica growing conditions) in the absence of cancellation as the result of the formation of the other recited traits. The improved Brassica oilseed is capable of forming upon germination a plant having satisfactory agronomic characteristics which yields following self-pollination Brassica oilseeds that possess the specified improved distribution of fatty acids within the oil that is present therein.