Abstract

The demand for vegetable oils, including those derived from crucifer (Brassicaceae) species, has been increasing rapidly over recent years for use in both food and industrial applications. In order to meet these demands, biotechnological approaches will almost certainly be a necessity to generate crops with improved lipid traits. In addition to the clear need to increase the seed oil content of crucifer species, there has also been growing interest in generating transgenic lines that display improved compositions of fatty acids and non-acyl lipids, including carotenoids and tocochromanols, for enhanced nutritional or industrial applicability. Fortunately, knowledge concerning oilseed metabolism and lipid biosynthesis are accumulating at a rapid pace, which is enabling attempts to genetically engineer crucifer species with enhanced oil content and quality. This chapter outlines the various attempts and successes in this field to date.