ISHS Acta Horticulturae 629: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: The Future for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
CHARACTERISATION AND EVALUATION OF SPECIES OF THE BORAGINACEAE FAMILY AS SOURCE OF GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID FOR MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS |
| Authors: | A. De Haro, M. del Río, B. Alcaide, H. Rapoport, A. Cabrera |
| Keywords: | Fatty acids, Borago officinalis, germplasm evaluation, EMS mutants, Echium spp., Anchusa spp. |
| Abstract:
Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid that is being used for the treatment of health problems related to deficiencies in essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. Borage plant is an important source of GLA, but the shattering habit of the genus limits large scale seed production. Looking for alternatives to the available borage material and for the possibilities of borage and other plant species belonging to the same botanical family as potential crops in Mediterranean conditions, this work describes: i) the evaluation of the seed quality of European borage population, and further selection of entries with high oil and GLA, and low erucic acid content, ii) the isolation of two borage mutants with improved seed production characteristics, iii) the first results of the anatomical and molecular studies in relation with the reproductive system and the cariotype of normal and mutants plants, and iv) the beginning and characterization of a germplasm collection of Boraginaceae plant species for its fatty acid composition and adaptability to semi arid environments: Anchusa azurea and Echium boissieri highlight as potential new crops for GLA production. | |
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