Organization of Rapid Analysis of Lipids in Many Individual Plants

Abstract

There is considerable interest in changing the composition of oilseed plants through plant breeding and genetic engineering (Greiner 1990). This may involve increasing or decreasing the total lipid in the seed or the composition of the lipid. Modern plant breeding is largely empirical and produces large numbers of plants whose oilseed composition must be evaluated. For example, two plants may be crossed and give rise to many offspring that are a genetic mixture of the two parents (Graef et al. 1988). Each of the offspring may differ genetically, and those with interesting oilseed compositions must be identified. Or, a batch of seed may be treated with a chemical or physical agent to induce mutations (Hammond and Fehr 1985). The surviving seed will give rise to plants that may have random mutations and must be evaluated to identify those with interesting compositions. In these situations plant breeders turn to those skilled in oilseed analysis, and close cooperation between breeder and analyst is needed for success.