Importance

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Abstract

Improved rape plants, seeds capable of forming the same, and a novel improved edible endogenous vegetable oil derived from the rapeseeds are provided. Such plants have the ability to yield an endogenous vegetable oil having an unusually low saturated fatty acid content. More specifically, the rape plants upon self-pollination are capable of forming rapeseeds which yield an improved vegetable oil following crushing and extraction having a saturated fatty acid content of no more than 4 percent by weight (preferably no more than 3.5 percent by weight and most preferably less than 3 percent by weight) in the form of stearic and palmitic acids based upon the total fatty acid content. A relatively low concentration of erucic acid (as described) also is exhibited in the endogenous oil. It has been found that the novel rape plants of the present invention can be formed by mutagenesis followed by selection as described. The endogenous vegetable oil produced by the improved rape plants of the present invention is particularly well suited for use as a vegetable oil (e.g., for use in a salad dressing, cooking applications, etc.). Accordingly, the present invention makes possible a further significant reduction in the already relatively low concentration of saturated fatty acid commonly present in quality vegetable oils derived from rapeseeds. In a preferred embodiment the plants additionally possess herbicide tolerance which facilitates their survival when unwanted plants which lack the reduced saturated fatty acid content are eliminated through the use of a herbicide.

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First Claim