Novel seed oil types of Ethiopian mustard with high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid and linolenic acid have important industrial applications, both as drying oils in the manufacture of paints and coatings as well as in formulation of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. However, no oil types with high levels of polyunsaturation have been developed so far in Brassica oilseed crops. The objective of the present research was to select for high levels of linoleic acid and linolenic acid in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun). Selection started from the F₃ (S₀) seed generation of crosses involving the high oleic acid, high erucic acid line N2-3591, the low linolenic, high erucic acid line HF-186, and the zero erucic acid line 25X-1. The analysis of individual S₀ seeds showed ranges of variation with maximum levels of 68.9% linoleic acid and 36.4% linolenic acid. Selection for increased levels of linoleic acid resulted in a S_1:2 high linoleic acid line BC-HL that showed average linoleic acid contents of 62.5%, 58.3%, and 59.6%, respectively in three contrasting environments, compared to 47.8%, 45.8%, and 52.1%, respectively in a high linoleic acid check line. Selection for increased levels of linolenic acid resulted in a S_1:2 high linolenic acid line BC-HLN that showed average linolenic acid contents of 27.1%, 25.8%, and 26.3%, respectively in the mentioned environments, compared to 23.9%, 21.2%, and 19.4%, respectively in a high linolenic acid check line. Both lines developed in the present research possess novel fatty acid profiles not available so far in Brassica oilseed crops and they may contribute to broaden the potential of Brassica oils for industrial applications.