How were the first high oleic/low linolenic acid canola plants developed?
The altered level of oleic and linolenic acid are two distinct traits in this novel canola variety. These novel traits were introduced into this canola variety through the combination of induced mutagenesis to achieve the high oleic acid trait, and traditional breeding to achieve the low linolenic acid trait. The high oleic acid trait is genetically based on the fad2 gene. The fad2 gene encodes for the “desaturase” enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for converting oleic acid into other fatty acids. In this novel canola line, a mutation within the fad2 gene was induced by a mutagen called ethylnitrosourea. The resulting mutation blocks the expression of an active desaturase enzyme by the fad2 gene. This impedes its ability to convert oleic acid into other fatty acids, resulting in the accumulation of oleic acids. Traditional breeding methods were used to introduce the low linolenic acid trait in the novel canola line. The high oleic acid canola plants were bred with registered varieties
