Generation of genetically modified oil-seed plants to yield altered composition of seed

The nutritional quality of vegetable oil adversely is affected by certain short comings of the common edible oils that we use. They are richness of omega-6 fatty acids (C18:2); lower content of oleic acid (C18:1); and poor level of omega-3 (C18:3) fatty acids; as well as high content of unwanted erucic acid (C22:1) in mustard-rapeseed oil. Metabolic engineering of fatty acid biosynthesis pathways in the seed tissues of oil-seed plants can be diverted by genetic manipulation from unwanted fatty acids to other potentially health beneficial fatty acids. Several genes, such as acyl-carrier protein, thioesterase, desaturase and elongase are available from microbial and plant sources. The expression of them in target oil seed plants can up or down-regulate the profile. We have already demonstrated that metabolic engineering for improvement of edible oil quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) as a model system can be achieved. This can be extended to other oilseed plants.

• The uniqueness of this approach is that the modification of the seed oil composition is carried out by genetic engineering with the use of plant genes that are safe for human consumption.
• Altered composition of vegetable oil can also be utilized in diverse industrial use besides being used as edible oil. Such possibilities may open up immense potentiality for further utilization.

Metabolic engineering strategy to alter oil seed quality in edible oil can be alternatively achieved through conventional plant breeding methods. However, this approach takes too long to fulfill a goal. On the other hand, transgenic approach to engineer the metabolic pathway of seed oil synthesis is a direct approach and requires shorter time.