Summary
The inheritance of two mutants of flax (Linum usitatissimum), having altered proportions of the C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic, was examined. Both lines, ‘M1589’ and ‘M1722’, are homozygous for a single gene mutation which reduces linolenic acid content from 34% to 22% and raises linoleic acid from 15% to 27%. Genetic analysis of crosses involving ‘M1589’, ‘M1722’ and their parental cultivar ‘Glenelg’ revealed that these mutations are in different unlinked genes and exhibit additive (codominant) gene action. The symbolsLn1 andLn2 are proposed for the mutated genes in ‘M1589’ and ‘M1722’, respectively. Recombinant genotypes homozygous for the mutant alleles at both loci are very low in linolenic acid (2%) and high in linoleic acid (48%), with unaltered proportions of other fatty acids. The complete inverse correlation between linoleic and linolenic acids (r=-0.98) indicates that the mutations block the synthesis of linolenic acid at the linoleic desaturation step.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beard BH, Comstock VE (1965) Flax genetics and gene symbolism. Crop Sci 5:151–155
Cherif A, Dubacq JP, Mache R, Oursel A, Tremolieres A (1975) Biosynthesis of α-linolenic acid by desaturation of oleic and linoleic acids in several organs of higher and lower plants and in algae. Phytochemistry 14:703–706
Das K, Rai M (1974) A diallel analysis of iodine value in linseed. Indian J Genet Plant Breed 34:718–725
de la Roche IA, Alexander DE, Weber EJ (1971) Inheritance of oleic and linoleic acids inZea mays L. Crop Sci 11:856–859
Dorrell DG, Downey RK (1964) The inheritance of erucic acid content in rapeseed (Brassica campestris). Can J Plant Sci 44:499–504
Doucet I, Filipescu H (1981) Inheritance and content of unsaturated fatty acids in linseed. An Inst Cercet Cereale Plante Teh — Fundulea 46:35–48
Downey RK, Dorrell DG (1971) Genetic control of fatty acid composition in oilseed crops. Proc Flax Inst US 41:1–3
Green AG (1983) The occurrence of ricinoleic acid inLinum seed oils. J Am Oil Chem Soc 61:939–940
Green AG (1986) A mutant genotype of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) containing very low levels of linolenic acid in its seed oil. Can J Plant Sci (submitted)
Green AG, Marshall DR (1981) Variation for oil quantity and quality in linseed (Linum usitatissimum). Aust J Agric Res 32:599–607
Green AG, Marshall DR (1984) Isolation of induced mutants in linseed (Linum usitatissimum) having reduced linolenic acid content. Euphytica 33:321–328
Harvey BL, Downey RK (1964) The inheritance of erucic acid content in rapeseed (Brassica napus). Can J Plant Sci 44: 104–111
Kannangara CG, Stumpf PK (1972) Fat metabolism in higher plants. 1. The biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids by isolated spinach chloroplasts. Arch Biochem Biophys 148:414–424
Kannangara CG, Jacobsen BS, Stumpf PK (1973) In vivo biosynthesis of α-linolenic acid in plants. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 52:648–655
Kirk JTO, Hurlestone CJ (1983) Variation and inheritance of erucic acid content inBrassica juncea. Z Pflanzenzücht 90:331–338
Knowles PF, Hill AG (1964) Inheritance of fatty acid content in the seed oil of a safflower introduction from Iran. Crop Sci 4:406–409
Kondra ZP, Thomas PM (1975) Inheritance of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in seed oil of rapeseed (Brassica napus). Can J Plant Sci 55:205–210
Oulaghan SA, Wills RBH (1976) Examination of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) for the presence of medium chain trienoic fatty acids. Plant Sci Lett 7:195–197
Röbbelen G (1982) Plant breeding and management — their role in modifying the availability and composition of certain vegetable oils and fats. In: Improvement of oil-seed and industrial crops by induced mutations. IAEA, Vienna, pp 17–61
Röbbelen G, Nitsch A (1975) Genetical and physiological investigations on mutants for polyenoic fatty acids in rapeseed,Brassica napus L. 1. Selection and description of new mutants. Z Pflanzenzücht 75:93–105
Slack CR, Roughan PG, Balasingham N (1978). Labelling of glycerolipids in the cotyledons of developing oilseeds by (1-14C) acetate and (2-3H) glycerol. Biochem J 170:421–433
Smouse TH (1979) A review of soybean oil reversion flavour. J Am Oil Chem Soc 56:747–751
Stymne S, Stobart AK (1985) Oil synthesis in vitro in microsomal membranes from developing cotyledons ofLinum usitatissimum L. Planta 164:101–104
Thies W (1970) Chloroplast development and biogenesis of linolenic acid in ripening cotyledons of rapeseed. In: Proc Int Conf Sci, Technol Marketing of Rapeseed and Rapeseed Products. Rapeseed Assn Canada, Ohawa, pp 348–356
Welch RW (1977) A micro-method for the estimation of oil content and composition in seed crops. J Sci Food Agric 28:635–638
White HB Jr, Quackenbush FW, Probst AH (1961) Occurrence and inheritance of linolenic and linoleic acids in soybean seeds. J Am Oil Chem Soc 38:113–117
Wilcox JR Cavins JF, Nielsen NC (1984) Genetic alteration of soybean oil composition by a chemical mutagen. J Am Oil Chem Soc 61:97–100
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by H. F. Linskens
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Green, A.G. Genetic control of polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed oil. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 72, 654–661 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289004
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289004