Breeding and genetic engineering of Cuphea and meadow foam

PLEASE EDIT: Saturated short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFAs and MCFAs, respectively) are produced in high concentrations in the seed oils of Cuphea. The goal of our laboratory has been to develop commercial sources of Cuphea oil by domesticating C. viscosissima and developing elite cultivars for machine planting and harvesting. Cuphea is a widely adapted, temperate, summer annual and can be grown throughout much of the USA. The first experimental cultivars of Cuphea were developed for field testing and commercial production by combining partial non-shattering with non-dormancy and non-sticky hairs in self pollinated genetic backgrounds. These cultivars can be machine planted and harvested and are being increased for field tests. The field performance of non-sticky lines has not been assessed yet. Seed shattering has been and still is the primary constraint to commercial production. Our present research is focused on developing completely non-shattering lines and enhancing the performance of elite lines and experimental cultivars. Chemically induced mutations have played an important role in the domestication of Cuphea. The non-sticky phenotype and several fatty acid profile changes were produced by induced mutations. We have initiated a new project to induce mutations affecting the development of the dehiscence zone in Cuphea capsules. If such mutations are produced and isolated, then fully non-shattering lines can be developed. C. viscosissima is one of several Cuphea species with SCFA and MCFA concentrations greater than 900 g/kg. Wild type C. viscosissima lines produce 1 g/kg caproic acid (6:0), 170 g/kg caprylic acid (8:0), 700 g/kg capric acid (10:0), 30 g/kg lauric acid (12:0), and 10 g/kg myristic acid (14:0). We have developed several C. viscosissima lines with novel fatty acid profiles: high capric acid lines producing 850 g/kg 10:0; high caproic acid lines producing 80 g/kg 6:0, 380 g/kg 8:0, and 300 g/kg 10:0; and high myristic acid lines producing 250 g/kg 10:0, 385 g/kg 14:0, and 140 g/kg 16:0. Caproic acid is rare in nature and is found only in low concentrations in a few seed oils. High caproic acid Cuphea oil is the only known source of 6:0 from a crop plant. Cuphea was primarily developed to supply oils to the surfactant industry. Edible, cosmetic, and medical markets and additional industrial markets have not been developed for Cuphea oil thus far