PRODUCTION OF IMPROVED RAPESEED EXHIBITING A REDUCED SATURATED FATTY ACID CONTENT

摘要

Improved rape plants, seeds capable of forming the same, and a novel improved edible endogenous vegetable oil derived from the rapeseeds are provided. The rape plants upon self-pollination are capable of forming rapeseeds which yield an improved vegetable oil following crushing and extraction having a saturated fatty acid content of no more than 4 percent by weight in the form of stearic and palmitic acids based upon the total fatty acid content. A relatively low concentration of erucic acid also is exhibited. The novel rape plants of the present invention can be formed by mutagenesis followed by selection. The endogenous vegetable oil produced by the present invention is particularly well suited for use as a vegetable oil. In a preferred embodiment the plants additionally possess herbicide tolerance which facilitates their survival when unwanted plants which lack the reduced saturated fatty acid content are eliminated through the use of a herbicide.