Method to develop high oleic acid soybeans using conventional soybean breeding techniques
Inventors
Bilyeu, Kristin D. • Shannon, James Grover • Lee, Jeong-Dong • Pham, Anh Tung
Assignees
US Department of Agriculture USDA • University of Missouri St Louis
Publication Number
US-10774337-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-15
Expiration Date
2032-01-17
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a soybean plant with mutations in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B. Moreover, the present invention is directed to seeds from said plants with altered ratios of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats. In particular, the present invention is directed to plants where the plants exhibit elevated levels of oleic acid.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to a soybean plant with mutations in the FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes. The soybean seeds from these plants exhibit altered ratios of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, particularly demonstrating elevated levels of oleic acid in the seed oil. These elevated oleic acid levels can range from about 65% to about 85%, representing up to a four-fold increase relative to conventional soybean lines.
The problem being addressed is the need for new and inexpensive sources of food oils with healthier fatty acid compositions. Current soybean oil typically contains about 20% oleic acid, but higher oleic acid content is desirable for health benefits and improved industrial and food applications. Existing technologies that increase oleic acid, such as transgenic methods involving introduction of transgenes, are costly and subject to regulatory scrutiny. There is a demand for non-genetically modified (non-GMO) soybean lines with mid to high oleic acid content that can be developed using conventional breeding techniques.
The invention overcomes these problems by identifying mutations in both FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes that when combined synergistically produce soybean seeds with high levels of oleic acid. It was found that mutation in FAD2-1B alone results in minor increases in oleic acid, but the combination with mutations in FAD2-1A results in dramatic increases. The soybean lines with such mutations can be produced and selected using conventional breeding methods, without requiring transgenic approaches, enabling efficient incorporation of the high oleic acid trait into elite soybean varieties.
Claims Coverage
The claims include one independent claim directed to oil derived from a stably reproducing soybean seed population, characterized by specific mutant sequences in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes. Key inventive features relate to the genetic nature of these mutants and the resulting oleic acid content in the oil.
Mutant FAD2-1A with single base deletion
The first polynucleotide sequence encoding FAD2-1A includes a single base deletion of adenine at position 543 or 544 (SEQ ID NO: 20), resulting in a nonfunctional or reduced activity mutant compared to wild-type FAD2-1A.
Mutant FAD2-1B with non-conserved amino acid substitutions
The second polynucleotide sequence encodes a FAD2-1B mutant with at least one mutation comprising a non-conserved amino acid substitution at amino acid position 137 or 143 of SEQ ID NO: 12. These mutants are nonfunctional or have reduced activity compared to wild-type FAD2-1B.
Oleic acid content range
The combined presence of the above mutant FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B sequences results in oil from the soybean seeds having an oleic acid content ranging from about 65% to about 85%.
Polar amino acid substitutions at positions 137 or 143 in FAD2-1B
Specific claims cover mutant FAD2-1B sequences having polar amino acid substitutions at position 137 or 143, including amino acids such as arginine, glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, asparagine, tyrosine, glutamine, lysine, and histidine.
The claims cover oil derived from soybean seeds with mutations in both FAD2-1A (single base deletion causing nonfunctional or reduced activity) and FAD2-1B (non-conserved amino acid substitutions at defined positions), where these genetic changes produce oil with high oleic acid content between 65% to 85%. Variations of polar amino acid substitutions at key FAD2-1B positions are also claimed.
Stated Advantages
The invention provides an efficient way to incorporate an enhanced oil quality trait (high oleic acid content) into elite soybean varieties using conventional breeding without requiring transgenic approaches, thus avoiding regulatory costs and delays.
The non-GMO soybean lines developed produce seed oil with elevated oleic acid levels up to around 85%, which is significantly higher than conventional soybean oil.
High oleic acid soybean oil offers improved health benefits by reducing cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risks.
Oils produced have better functional properties for food products and industrial uses, including improved cold flow properties for biodiesel and lubricants, and suitability for replacing partially hydrogenated oils in food applications.
The high oleic acid trait is stable across multiple environmental conditions and does not negatively affect seed protein or oil content.
Documented Applications
Food industry applications including cooking oils, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, margarine, bread, mayonnaise, non-dairy coffee creamers, and snack foods.
Industrial markets such as biodiesel and biolubricants where improved cold flow properties are valued.
Use in pharmaceuticals and other products requiring stable monounsaturated fatty acid oils.
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