Genetic variation and quantitative genetics of phytosterol content in the seed oil of Brassica napus

Over 40 phytosterols have been identified in different plant species so far. Sterols are an essential component of cell membranes, and both animals (only cholesterol) and plants produce them. The sterol ring is a common feature of all sterols and differences in the side chain causes the structural variation. Consumption of food (ëfunctional foodí, e.g. margarines) fortified with plant sterols and stanols has been found to result in reduced concentrations of plasma total and LDL-cholesterol.
After oil extraction mainly Sitosterol, Campesterol and Brassicasterol is found in the seed oil of Brassica napus. Transgenic approaches have been started to increase the phytosterol content in rapeseed and other oil crops. However, little is known about the natural genetic variation for phytosterol content and composition in rapeseed and the prospects of increasing the phytosterol content by breeding.
The performed research work is focussed on the development of an efficient gaschromatographic method for phytosterol detection, the development of a NIRS calibration, the analysis of genetic variation in a large germplasm collection, and analysis of the quantitative genetics of seed phytosterol content in winter rapeseed.