FAD2 — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Summary

BoFAD2, located on chromosome 1 of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), encodes a fatty acid desaturase with oleate D12-hydroxylase, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid desaturase, and monooxygenase activities. The gene is associated with unsaturated and general fatty acid anabolism and localises to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. BoFAD2 has been linked to linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and xanthophyll content, as well as seed viability, water use efficiency, stomatal resistance, flower development, temperature stress responses, disease tolerance, and plant growth and development traits. Associations also include altered fatty acid composition, polyunsaturated lipid synthesis, seed oleic and linoleic acid content, cold tolerance, and endoplasmic reticulum stress tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to salt tolerance, resistance to Botrytis cinerea, and aphid resistance.