Leading the field in transgenic plant research
ROTHAMSTED Research received permission from Defra in May 2019 to run a series of trials using genetically modified camelina plants.
The first part of the proposed research will determine performance in the field, and the seed oil yield, of transgenic camelina plants that have been engineered to accumulate omega-3 fish oils in their seeds.
A recent study led by the University of Southampton found the uptake and use of these oils by the body was the same whether plant or fish based sources were consumed.
Similarly, in the collaboration with Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, as well as the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, it was shown that these GM oils were an effective substitute for fish oil in the feeds of farmed salmon.
The second strand of work will look at the performance of camelina plants whose metabolism has been altered to increase seed oil content.
The final part will investigate the performance of camelina plants engineered to contain less sinapine in their seeds. Sinapine is a bitter tasting, anti-nutritive chemical that can make the protein rich seed meal less palatable as an animal feed.
The trial also includes appraisal of some gene edited plants, which were reclassified as GM by the EU last year.
This part of the trial, using CRISPR-Cas9 gene technology, is looking to boost the amount of oleic acid – used in both food and industrial processes – already in the seeds.
This experiment is part of Tailoring Plant Metabolism, one of Rothamsted’s five strategic programmes (2017-2022) that receive financial support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.