A rape field and pylons in Kent county, UK. (Credit: Flickr @ Glen https://www.flickr.com/photos/l2f1/)A team of researchers from Rothamsted Research, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, have published the first study to target multiple genes that control a series of important steps in the pathway for seed oil production (see footnote).
Vegetable oils are a major global commodity. World production exceeds 150 million tons per year and has risen by approx. 50% in just ten years. In the UK oilseed rape is our third largest crop after wheat and barley. The vegetable oil from the seed is used mainly for human food production and accounts for about 80% of the value of the crop. In recognition of this farmers receive a premium at market for seeds with higher oil content and breeders target this trait as a means to improve oil yield.
Rapeseed oil is used as diesel fuel, either as biodiesel, straight in heated fuel systems, or blended with petroleum distillates for powering motor vehicles. Biodiesel may be used in pure form in newer engines without engine damage and is frequently combined with fossil-fuel diesel in ratios varying from 2% to 20% biodiesel. Rapeseed oil is the preferred oil stock for biodiesel production in most of Europe, accounting for about 80% of the feedstock, partly because rapeseed produces more oil per unit of land area compared to other oil sources.
In the last decade rapid progress has been made in understanding the metabolic pathway that converts imported sugars into oil within the seed and this is beginning to enable scientists to make small improvements in oil content ‘by design’. Up until now only single genes have been altered, despite knowledge from modeling studies that multiple steps in the pathway contribute to the overall control of oil production.
A number of individual gene have previously been reported to enhance the oil content of seeds when their expression is altered. Researchers at the Rothamsted Researche have now established that ‘stacking’ the right combination of genes can have an additive effect on seed oil content and oil yield. The research was carried out using the model oilseed plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which is related to oilseed rape.
Dr Pete Eastmond who led the research said “We are excited about the potential this technology holds to enhance the oil yield of oilseed crops. We see oilseed rape as a potential target, given its value to UK agriculture, but we are keen to keep perspective. It’s still a long-hop to translate our work from a model to a crop and from the laboratory to the field. Unlike our metabolic engineering strategy, this process will be a case of one step at a time.”
van Erp, H., Kelly, A., Menard, G., & Eastmond, P. (2014). Multi-gene engineering of triacylglycerol metabolism boosts seed oil content in Arabidopsis PLANT PHYSIOLOGY DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.236430
