Background

Gossypium barbadense (GB0331) has high oil content and an increased percentage of oleic acid in the triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the seed. This high oleic acid content in the seed TAGs was correlated with increased oleic acid content in the phosphatidylcholines (PC) of the seed, the metabolic precursor to acyl groups incorporated into the TAGs Lipidomics profiling led to the discovery of a novel FAD2-1 allele, fad2- 1D-1, resulting in a high oleic phenotype. A mutation was identified in the genome of GB0331 within the D- homeologue of the seed-specific fatty acid desaturase (FAD2-1) that is responsible for converting oleic acid to linoleic acid while it is esterified to PC.

Technology Overview

Genetically diverse cottonseeds show altered compositions and spatial distributions of phosphatidylcholines and triacylglycerols. Here an identified 90 bp sequence was inserted in the GB0331 genome to disrupt the coding sequence of the FAD2-1D gene. This DNA segment discovery has potential applications for introgression into cotton varieties such as Pima and upland cotton varieties. This enables a non-GMO strategy to elevate the oleic acid content of commercial cottonseed oil.

Stage of Development

Reduced to practice and Available for Licensing

Benefits

Diverse Applications
High Oleic seed oil
Non GMO
High specificity

Applications

Due to its oxidative stability and flavour-enhancing properties, cottonseed oil enjoys a reputation as an excellent frying oil, but with changes to its fatty acid composition, cottonseed oil might enter other markets. Due to health concerns of the use of non-natural fats (trans-fatty acids) there is more focus on the development of crop varieties that produced seeds with high oleic oils, or enhanced monounsaturate-containing oils. This has been achieved by transgenic/non-transgenic means but due to public backlash on GMO foods and complex regulatory frameworks surrounding them there has been a lot of focus on developing crops with altered seed oil compositions. Thus there is a lot of commercial potential for this discovery and its applications.

High Oleic Seed Oil Trait in Cotton Varieties to Elevate Oleic Acid Content of Cottonseed Oil

Patents

IP Status

Seeking