CRISPR Produces Camelina with Higher Oil Content

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory used CRISPR to develop a high-oil variety of Camelina sativa. Their research may help achieve a net-zero carbon bioeconomy.

Camelina (Camelina sativa) is a close relative of canola and it is being developed to serve as a source of plant oil for the production of biofuel feedstocks. However, a yellow seed phenotype of Camelina is necessary to acquire a high oil content from the plant but it is currently unknown.

The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt Camelina's Transparent Testa 8 (TT8) transcription factor genes, which changed the seed coat color from brown to yellow. The results also showed a boost in fatty acid synthesis, total fatty acid (TFA) accumulation, and Triacylglycerols (TAGs). No significant changes in levels of protein and starch were observed.

For more information, read the article in Plant Biotechnology Journal.

See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ged/article/default.asp?ID=20861