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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Improvement Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410386
Research Project: Improvement of Disease and Pest Resistance in Barley, Durum, Oat, and Wheat Using Genetics and Genomics

Location: Cereal Crops Improvement Research

Title: Towards improving oil composition and content in oat through metabolic engineering

Author
item ZHOU, ZHOU - McGill University - Canada
item KAUR, RAJVINDER - McGill University - Canada
item DONOSO, THOMAS - McGill University - Canada
item Ohm, Jae-Bom
item KUSHWAHA, ASHUTOSH - McGill University - Canada
item Gupta, Rajeev
item LEFSRUD, MARK - McGill University - Canada
item SINGH, JASWINDER - McGill University - Canada

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/9/2023
Publication Date: 1/13/2024
Citation: Zhou, Z., Kaur, R., Donoso, T., Ohm, J., Kushwaha, A., Gupta, R., Lefsrud, M., Singh, J. 2024. Towards improving oil composition and content in oat through metabolic engineering (abstract). Paper No.52034.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Energy densification and enrichment of monounsaturated fatty acids increases oat’s nutritional value among small grain cereals. However, optimization of oat oil traits is challenging through conventional breeding. Using the biolistic method for oat’s oil improvement, here we showed that metabolic engineering is a feasible strategy in improving the oil traits of oat. In this study, two constructs containing three genes involved in lipid biosynthesis pathway (AtWRI1, AtDGAT, and SiOLEOSIN) were transformed into oat cultivar ‘Park’ to enhance the oil composition and content in oat grain and leaves. Transgene expression contributed to a global transcriptional reprogramming in oat seeds and leaves. Endogenous DGAT1, WRI1, and OLEOSIN genes were up regulated while the genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis expressed in opposite way between oat seeds and leaves. Transcriptomic studies revealed differential gene expression mainly enriched in lipid metabolism. Compared to the wild-type, oleic acid content was increased up to 34.33% in oat grains and total oil content have been improved in oat leaves while maintaining homeostasis in oat plants. These results underpin the application of genetic engineering to manipulate oil composition and contents in oat for human consumption and livestock feeding.