Oil palm covers over one-third of vegetable oil production worldwide and has
a variety of applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Another
gene related to high-oil content has been characterized by a group of
scientists working on the genetic improvement of oil palm.

Through genome-wide association data analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and
multiple sequence alignment, the researchers found the EgGDSL gene to be
associated with high-oil content. The gene was transformed and expressed in
Arabidopsis and was found to increase total fatty acid content by 9.5%.
EgGDSL was also found to be highly expressed in oil palm trees with high oil
content.

The EgGDSL gene would be valuable in breeding and the genetic engineering of
oil palm.



[www.nature.com]