title: Field trial evaluation of the accumulation of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenicCamelina sativa: Making fish oil substitutes in plants.
abstract: The global consumption of fish oils currently exceeds one million tonnes, with the naturalde novosource of these important fatty acids forming the base of marine foodwebs. Here we describe the first field-based evaluation of a terrestrial source of these essential nutrients, synthesised in the seeds of transgenicCamelina sativaplants via the heterologous reconstitution of the omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Our data demonstrate the robust nature of this novel trait, and the feasibility of making fish oils in genetically modified crops. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the most complex example of plant genetic engineering to undergo environmental release and field evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usher
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sayanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Johnathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Napier
keywords: Camelina; Fish oils; GM field trials; Oilseeds; Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; Plant metabolic engineering