Soybean Seed and Oil Compositions and Methods of Making Same

Abstract

Methods for obtaining soybean plants that produce seed with low linolenic acid levels and moderately increased oleic levels are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for producing seed with low linolenic acid levels, moderately increased oleic levels and low saturated fatty acid levels. These methods entail the combination of transgenes that provide moderate oleic acid levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. These methods also entail the combination of transgenes that provide both moderate oleic acid levels and low saturated fat levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. Soybean plants and seeds produced by these methods are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/684,413, filed Mar. 9, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/781,519, filed Mar. 10, 2006, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

[0004] A text file of the Sequence Listing contained in the file named "87775_seq listing_ST25.txt" which is 77,824 bytes (measured in MS-Windows.RTM.) is electronically filed herewith and is incorporated by reference. This Sequence Listing consists of SEQ ID NO:1-65.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] This invention relates generally to methods of making soybean plants that produce soybean seed with altered oil compositions and, more particularly, to methods where soybean seed with a mid oleic, low linolenic phenotype or soybean seed with a mid oleic, low saturate, low linolenic phenotype are produced.

[0007] 2. Related Art

[0008] Plant oils are used in a variety of applications. Novel vegetable oil compositions and improved approaches to obtain oil compositions, from biosynthetic or natural plant sources, are needed. Depending upon the intended oil use, various different fatty acid compositions are desired. Plants, especially species which synthesize large amounts of oils in seeds, are an important source of oils both for edible and industrial uses. Seed oils are composed almost entirely of triacylglycerols in which fatty acids are esterified to the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol.

[0009] Soybean oil typically contains about 16-20% saturated fatty acids: 13-16% palmitate and 3-4% stearate. See generally Gunstone et al., The Lipid Handbook, Chapman & Hall, London (1994). Soybean oils have been modified by various breeding methods to create benefits for specific markets. However, a soybean oil that is broadly beneficial to major soybean oil users such as consumers of salad oil, cooking oil and frying oil, and industrial markets such as biodiesel and biolube markets, is not available. Prior soybean oils were either too expensive or lacked an important food quality property such as oxidative stability, good fried food flavor or saturated fat content, or an important biodiesel property such as appropriate nitric oxide emissions or cold tolerance or cold flow.

[0010] Higher plants synthesize fatty acids via a common metabolic pathway--the fatty acid synthetase (FAS) pathway, which is located in the plastids. .beta.-ketoacyl-ACP synthases are important rate-limiting enzymes in the FAS of plant cells and exist in several versions. .beta.-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I catalyzes chain elongation to palmitoyl-ACP (C16:0), whereas .beta.-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II catalyzes chain elongation to stearoyl-ACP (C18:0). .beta.-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV is a variant of .beta.-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II, and can also catalyze chain elongation to 18:0-ACP. In soybean, the major products of FAS are 16:0-ACP and 18:0-ACP. The desaturation of 18:0-ACP to form 18:1-ACP is catalyzed by a plastid-localized soluble delta-9 desaturase (also referred to as "stearoyl-ACP desaturase"). See Voelker et al., 52 Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 335-61 (2001).

[0011] The products of the plastidial FAS and delta-9 desaturase, 16:0-ACP, 18:0-ACP, and 18:1-ACP, are hydrolyzed by specific thioesterases (FAT). Plant thioesterases can be classified into two gene families based on sequence homology and substrate preference. The first family, FATA, includes long chain acyl-ACP thioesterases having activity primarily on 18:1-ACP. Enzymes of the second family, FATB, commonly utilize 16:0-ACP (palmitoyl-ACP), 18:0-ACP (stearoyl-ACP), and 18:1-ACP (oleoyl-ACP). Such thioesterases have an important role in determining chain length during de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants, and thus these enzymes are useful in the provision of various modifications of fatty acyl compositions, particularly with respect to the relative proportions of various fatty acyl groups that are present in seed storage oils.

[0012] The products of the FATA and FATB reactions, the free fatty acids, leave the plastids and are converted to their respective acyl-CoA esters. Acyl-CoAs are substrates for the lipid-biosynthesis pathway (Kennedy Pathway), which is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This pathway is responsible for membrane lipid formation as well as the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, which constitute the seed oil. In the ER there are additional membrane-bound desaturases, which can further desaturate 18:1 to polyunsaturated fatty acids. A delta-12 desaturase (FAD2) catalyzes the insertion of a double bond into 18:1 (oleic acid), forming linoleic acid (18:2). A delta-15 desaturase (FAD3) catalyzes the insertion of a double bond into 18:2, forming linolenic acid (18:3).

[0013] Inhibition of the endogenous FAD2 gene through use of transgenes that inhibit the expression of FAD2 has been shown to confer a desirable mid-oleic acid (18:1) phenotype (i.e. soybean seed comprising about 50% and 75% oleic acid by weight). Transgenes and transgenic plants that provide for inhibition of the endogenous FAD2 gene expression and a mid-oleic phenotype are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,722. In contrast, wild type soybean plants that lack FAD2 inhibiting transgenes typically produce seed with oleic acid compositions of less than 20%.

[0014] Soybean oil typically contains about 8% of linolenic acid (18:3) that results in reduced stability and flavor. The levels of linolenic acid (18:3) in soybean oil can be reduced by hydrogenation to improve both stability and flavor (Dutton et al., 1951; Lui and White, 1992). Unfortunately, hydrogenation results in the production of trans fatty acids, which increases the risk for coronary heart disease when consumed (Hu et al., 1997).

[0015] Conventional breeding has also been used to generate soybean lines with the linolenic levels ranging from 1%-6% (Ross et al. Crop Science, 40:383; 2000; Wilson et al. J. Oleo Sci., 50:5, 87, 2001; Wilson Lipid technology September 1999). Varieties of low linolenic acid soybean have been produced through mutation, screening and breeding (Fehr et al., 1992; Rahman and Takagi, 1997; Ross et al., 2000; Byrum et al., 1997; Stoisin et al., 1998). Certain soybean varieties with a linolenic acid content of about 1% or lower have been obtained (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,534,425 and 5,714,670). More recently, methods for obtaining soybean plants with both low levels of linolenic acid levels as well as the yield and growth characteristics of agronomically elite soybean varieties have been disclosed (U.S. Patent Application 2006/0107348).

[0016] Oleic acid has one double bond, but is still relatively stable at high temperatures, and oils with high levels of oleic acid are suitable for cooking and other processes where heating is required. Recently, increased consumption of high oleic oils has been recommended, because oleic acid appears to lower blood levels of low density lipoproteins ("LDLs") without affecting levels of high density lipoproteins ("HDLs"). However, some limitation of oleic acid levels is desirable, because when oleic acid is degraded at high temperatures, it creates negative flavor compounds and diminishes the positive flavors created by the oxidation of linoleic acid. Neff et al., JAOCS, 77:1303-1313 (2000); Warner et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:899-905 (2001). It is thus preferable to use oils with oleic acid levels that are 65-85% or less by weight, in order to limit off-flavors in food applications such as frying oil and fried food. Other preferred oils have oleic acid levels that are greater than 55% by weight in order to improve oxidative stability.

[0017] For many oil applications, saturated fatty acid levels of less than 8% by weight or even less than about 2-3% by weight are desirable. Saturated fatty acids have high melting points which are undesirable in many applications. When used as a feedstock or fuel, saturated fatty acids cause clouding at low temperatures, and confer poor cold flow properties such as pour points and cold filter plugging points to the fuel. Oil products containing low saturated fatty acid levels may be preferred by consumers and the food industry because they are perceived as healthier and/or may be labeled as "saturated fat free" in accordance with FDA guidelines. In addition, low saturate oils reduce or eliminate the need to winterize the oil for food applications such as salad oils. In biodiesel and lubricant applications oils with low saturated fatty acid levels confer improved cold flow properties and do not cloud at low temperatures.

[0018] Soybean lines that produce seed with mid-oleic, low-linoleic acid content would be very desirable. Unfortunately, attempts to combine the mid oleic and low linolenic traits via genetic engineering approaches have been problematic. Transgenic lines where both the delta-12 desaturase (FAD2) and the delta-15 desaturase (FAD3) genes have been suppressed have seed with low linolenic levels, but the oleic acid levels are typically above the range defined for mid oleic. However, the methods disclosed here enable production of low linolenic soybean seeds that also have oleic acid levels in the mid oleic range of 55-80%. Furthermore, these methods do not entail hydrogenation processes and thus avoid the production of undesirable trans-fats.

[0019] Soybean lines that produce seed with mid-oleic, low saturate, low-linoleic acid content would be also very desirable. Methods disclosed here enable production of low linolenic soybean seeds that also have oleic acid levels in the mid oleic range of 55-80% and saturated fatty acid levels of less than 8%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention first relates to a method of producing a soybean plant comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight. This method of the invention is practiced by a first step of making one or more soybean plants that comprise a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene, a second step of obtaining at least one seed from said soybean plant obtained from the first step, a third step of determining a percentage of the total seed fatty acid content by weight of linolenic acid and oleic acid for the seed from the second step, and then identifying a soybean plant that yields seed having a seed fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0021] In other embodiments of this method, the soybean plants that are made in the first step comprise at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes. These loss of function mutations can be located in the endogenous soybean FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C genes. In this embodiment of the method, the soybean plants identified in the third step of the method comprise a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0022] In certain embodiments of this method, the transgene can further comprise a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance. The herbicide tolerance transgene may confer tolerance to glyphosate. In specific embodiments of the invention, the transgene comprises sequences located between the T-DNA border sequences of pMON68504, pCGN5469, pCGN5471, or pCGN5485 that are integrated into a chromosome of said plant.

[0023] In the third step of the method, the percentage of the total seed fatty acid content by weight of linolenic acid and oleic acid is determined by a lipid analysis technique. This lipid analysis technique comprises one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of gas chromatography/flame ionization detection, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography/flame ionization detection, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectroscopy.

[0024] The soybean plant comprising a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene can be made by crossing a first soybean parent line comprising the transgene with a second soybean parent line comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene to obtain an F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for the transgene and heterozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene and then selfing F1 progeny plants from the cross to obtain an F2 soybean plant that is homozygous for said transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. In certain embodiments of this method, the second soybean parent line comprises at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes. The two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes can be FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C. In this method, the F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for the transgene and for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene is obtained in step (i) by subjecting a plurality of F1 plants to at least one DNA analysis technique permitting identification of an F1 plant that is heterozygous for said transgene and for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. Similarly, the F2 soybean plant that is homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene is obtained in step (ii) by subjecting a plurality of F2 plants to at least one DNA analysis technique permitting identification of an F2 plant that is homozygous for said transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. The DNA analysis technique comprises one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of PCR analysis, quantitative PCR analysis, SNP analysis, AFLP analysis, RFLP analysis and RAPD analysis. In certain embodiments of this invention, the DNA analysis technique comprises detection of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 687, 1129, 1203, 2316, 3292, 3360 or 3743 of SEQ ID NO:62, detection of a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62, or detection of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism in a soybean FAD3-1C promoter sequence corresponding to a guanine at nucleotide 334, a cytosine at nucleotide 364, a thymine at nucleotide 385, an adenine at nucleotide 387, a cytosine at nucleotide 393, a guanine at nucleotide 729 and a cytosine at nucleotide 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. In other embodiments of this invention, the DNA analysis technique comprises detection of a single nucleotide polymorphism in a soybean FAD3-1B gene comprising a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the FAD3-1b gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61. In this method, the transgene can further comprise a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance and the F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for said transgene is obtained in step (i) by subjecting a plurality of F1 plants to herbicide selection for said transgene. Similarly, when the transgene further comprises a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance, a plurality of F2 plants enriched for F2 soybean plants that are homozygous for said transgene are obtained in step (ii) by subjecting said plurality of F2 plants to herbicide selection for said transgene. This method can also further comprise the step iii) of selfing the F2 progeny plant that are homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene from step (ii) to obtain an F3 soybean plant.

[0025] An alternative method of making soybean plants that comprise a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene involves direct transformation of soybean plants or cells comprising the mutation with the transgene. Thus this soybean plant is made in the first step of the invention by transforming a soybean plant or plant cell comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene with a transgene that decreases the expression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene to obtain an R0 soybean plant with least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene that is heterozygous for said transgene, selfing the R0 progeny plant from the previous step to obtain an R1 soybean plant that is homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene, thereby obtaining a soybean plant comprising a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene. In certain embodiments of this method, the transgene further comprises sequences that confer a herbicide tolerance trait. In other embodiments of the invention, the transgene further comprises sequences that confer glyphosate tolerance.

[0026] This invention also encompasses soybean plants produced by the aforementioned methods of the invention as well as plant parts of soybean plants produced by the methods of the invention. The soybean plant part produced can be pollen, an ovule, a meristem, a leaf, a stem, a root, or a cell. Progeny soybean plants from the soybean plants produced by these methods are also contemplated by this invention. The invention also encompasses seed of the soybean plant produced by the methods of the invention, where this seed has a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight. The invention further encompasses seed of the soybean plant produced by methods wherein soybean plants comprising at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are used, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0027] This invention also provides a method of obtaining a soybean plant with an altered seed oil fatty acid composition comprising the steps of: a) crossing a first soybean parent line having a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% of total fatty acids by weight with a second soybean parent line having a seed oil fatty acid composition wherein the content of at least one fatty acid other than linoleic acid is altered by at least 50% when compared to the corresponding fatty acid content of a commodity soybean oil, said second soybean parent line comprising a transgene that alters the content of at least one fatty acid other than linoleic acid; and b) obtaining a progeny plant exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than 3% of total fatty acids by weight and a content of at least one fatty acid other than linoleic acid that is altered by at least 50% when compared to the corresponding fatty acid content of a commodity soybean oil, thereby obtaining a soybean plant with an altered seed oil fatty acid composition. In this method, the fatty acid other than linolenic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, stearidonic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, .gamma.-linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.

[0028] The invention also relates to a method of producing a soybean plant comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of less than about 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight. This method of the invention is practiced by a first step of making one or more soybean plants that comprise at least one transgene that decreases the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous FATB gene, and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene, a second step of obtaining at least one seed from said soybean plant obtained from the first step, a third step of determining a percentage of the total seed fatty acid content by weight of linolenic acid, saturated fatty acids and oleic acid for the seed from the second step, and then identifying a soybean plant that yields seed having a seed fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of less than about 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0029] In other embodiments of this method, the soybean plants that are made in the first step comprise at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes. These loss of function mutations can be located in the endogenous soybean FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C genes. In this embodiment of the method, the soybean plants identified in the third step of the method can comprise a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of less than about 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0030] In certain embodiments of this method, the transgene can further comprise a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance. The transgene can confer tolerance to glyphosate. The transgene that confers resistance to glyphosate can encode a CP4 EPSPS gene.

[0031] In the third step of the method, the percentage of the total seed fatty acid content by weight of linolenic acid, saturated fatty acids and oleic acid is determined by a lipid analysis technique. This lipid analysis technique comprises one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of gas chromatography/flame ionization detection, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography/flame ionization detection, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectroscopy.

[0032] The soybean plant comprising at least one transgene that decreases the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous FATB gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene can be made by crossing a first soybean parent line comprising the transgene with a second soybean parent line comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene to obtain an F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for the transgene(s) and heterozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene and then selfing F1 progeny plants from the cross to obtain an F2 soybean plant that is homozygous for said transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. In certain embodiments of this method, the second soybean parent line comprises at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes. The two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes can be FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C. In this method, the F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for the transgene and for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene is obtained in step (i) by subjecting a plurality of F1 plants to at least one DNA analysis technique permitting identification of an F1 plant that is heterozygous for said transgene and for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. Similarly, the F2 soybean plant that is homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene is obtained in step (ii) by subjecting a plurality of F2 plants to at least one DNA analysis technique permitting identification of an F2 plant that is homozygous for said transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene. The DNA analysis technique comprises one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of PCR analysis, quantitative PCR analysis, SNP analysis, AFLP analysis, RFLP analysis and RAPD analysis. In certain embodiments of this invention, the DNA analysis technique comprises detection of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 687, 1129, 1203, 2316, 3292, 3360 or 3743 of SEQ ID NO:62, detection of a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62, or detection of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism in a soybean FAD3-1C promoter sequence corresponding to a guanine at nucleotide 334, a cytosine at nucleotide 364, a thymine at nucleotide 385, an adenine at nucleotide 387, a cytosine at nucleotide 393, a guanine at nucleotide 729 and a cytosine at nucleotide 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. In other embodiments of this invention, the DNA analysis technique comprises detection of single nucleotide polymorphism in a soybean FAD3-1B gene comprising a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the Fad3-1b gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61. In this method, the transgene can further comprise a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance and the F1 soybean plant that is heterozygous for said transgene is obtained in step (i) by subjecting a plurality of F1 plants to herbicide selection for said transgene. Similarly, when the transgene further comprises a transgene that confers herbicide tolerance, a plurality of F2 plants enriched for F2 soybean plants that are homozygous for said transgene are obtained in step (ii) by subjecting said plurality of F2 plants to herbicide selection for said transgene. This method can also further comprise the step iii) of selfing the F2 progeny plant that are homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene from step (ii) to obtain an F3 soybean plant.

[0033] An alternative method of making soybean plants that comprise at least one transgene that decreases the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous soybean FATB gene and an endogenous FATB gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene involves direct transformation of soybean plants or cells comprising the mutation with the transgene(s). Thus this soybean plant is made in the first step of the invention by transforming a soybean plant or plant cell comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene with one or more transgene(s) that decrease the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous soybean FATB gene to obtain an R0 soybean plant with least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene that is heterozygous for said transgene, selfing the R0 progeny plant from the previous step to obtain an R1 soybean plant that is homozygous for the transgene and homozygous for at least one loss of function mutation in a FAD3 gene, thereby obtaining a soybean plant comprising a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene. In certain embodiments of this method, the transgene further comprises sequences that confer a herbicide tolerance trait. In other embodiments of the invention, the transgene further comprises sequences that confer glyphosate tolerance.

[0034] This invention also encompasses soybean plants produced by the aforementioned methods of the invention as well as plant parts of soybean plants produced by the methods of the invention. The soybean plant part produced can be pollen, an ovule, a meristem, a leaf, a stem, a root, or a cell. Progeny soybean plants from the soybean plants produced by these methods are also contemplated by this invention. The invention also encompasses seed of the soybean plant produced by the methods of the invention, where this seed has a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight. The invention further encompasses seed of the soybean plant produced by methods wherein soybean plants comprising at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are used, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of about 55% to about 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

[0035] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates pCGN5469, a plant vector for decreasing expression of the soybean FAD2-1 gene;

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates pCGN5471, a plant vector for decreasing expression of the soybean FAD2-1 gene;

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates pCGN5485, a plant vector for decreasing expression of the soybean FAD2-1 gene; and

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary plant vector configurations for decreasing expression of one or more genes by using the DNA sequence elements from the soybean genes listed in Table 1.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary plant vector configurations for decreasing expression of one or more genes by using the DNA sequence elements from the soybean FAD2-1 and/or soybean FATB genes listed in Table 2.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary plant vectors for decreasing expression of both the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB genes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Description of the Nucleic Acid Sequences

[0044] SEQ ID NO: 1 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1A intron 1.

[0045] SEQ ID NO: 2 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1B intron 1.

[0046] SEQ ID NO: 3 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1B promoter.

[0047] SEQ ID NO: 4 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1A genomic clone.

[0048] SEQ ID NOs: 5 & 6 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD2-1A 3' UTR and 5'UTR, respectively.

[0049] SEQ ID NOs: 7-13 are nucleic acid sequences of FAD3-1A introns 1, 2, 3A, 4, 5, 3B, and 3C, respectively.

[0050] SEQ ID NO: 14 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD3-1C intron 4.

[0051] SEQ ID NO: 15 is a nucleic acid sequence of a partial FAD3-1A genomic clone.

[0052] SEQ ID NOs: 16 & 17 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD3-1A 3'UTR and 5'UTR, respectively.

[0053] SEQ ID NO: 18 is a nucleic acid sequence of a partial FAD3-1B genomic clone.

[0054] SEQ ID NOs: 19-25 are nucleic acid sequences of FAD3-1B introns 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4, and 5, respectively.

[0055] SEQ ID NOs: 26 & 27 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD3-1B 3'UTR and 5'UTR, respectively.

[0056] SEQ ID NO: 28 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-1 genomic clone.

[0057] SEQ ID NO: 29-35 are nucleic acid sequences of FATB-1 introns I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII, respectively.

[0058] SEQ ID NOs: 36 & 37 are nucleic acid sequences of a FATB-1 3'UTR and 5'UTR, respectively.

[0059] SEQ ID NO: 38 is a nucleic acid sequence of a Cuphea pulcherrima KAS I gene.

[0060] SEQ ID NO: 39 is a nucleic acid sequence of a Cuphea pulcherrima KAS IV gene.

[0061] SEQ ID NOs: 40 & 41 are nucleic acid sequences of Ricinus communis and Simmondsia chinensis delta-9 desaturase genes, respectively.

[0062] SEQ ID NO: 42 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-2 cDNA.

[0063] SEQ ID NO: 43 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-2 genomic clone.

[0064] SEQ ID NOs: 44-47 are nucleic acid sequences of FATB-2 introns I, II, III, and IV respectively.

[0065] SEQ ID NOs: 48-60 are nucleic acid sequences of PCR primers.

[0066] SEQ ID NO:61 is a FAD3-1B gene sequence that corresponds to SEQ ID NO:1 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149.

[0067] SEQ ID NO: 62 is a FAD3-1C gene sequence that corresponds to SEQ ID NO:2 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149.

[0068] SEQ ID NO:63 is a FAD3-1C promoter sequence that corresponds to SEQ ID NO:3 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149.

DEFINITIONS

[0069] "ACP" refers to an acyl carrier protein moiety. "Altered seed oil composition" refers to a seed oil composition from a transgenic or transformed plant of the invention which has altered or modified levels of the fatty acids therein, relative to a seed oil from a plant having a similar genetic background but that has not been transformed. "Antisense suppression" refers to gene-specific silencing that is induced by the introduction of an antisense RNA molecule.

[0070] "Agronomically elite", as used herein, means a genotype that has a culmination of many distinguishable traits such as emergence, vigor, vegetative vigor, disease resistance, seed set, standability and threshability which allows a producer to harvest a product of commercial significance.

[0071] "Allele" as used herein, refers to any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all of which alleles relate to a trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

[0072] "Backcrossing" as used herein, refers to a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F1), back to one of the parents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce one or more single locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

[0073] "Coexpression of more than one agent such as an mRNA or protein" refers to the simultaneous expression of an agent in overlapping time frames and in the same cell or tissue as another agent. "Coordinated expression of more than one agent" refers to the coexpression of more than one agent when the production of transcripts and proteins from such agents is carried out utilizing a shared or identical promoter.

[0074] "Complement" of a nucleic acid sequence refers to the complement of the sequence along its complete length.

[0075] "Cosuppression" is the reduction in expression levels, usually at the level of RNA, of a particular endogenous gene or gene family by the expression of a homologous sense construct that is capable of transcribing mRNA of the same strandedness as the transcript of the endogenous gene. Napoli et al., Plant Cell 2:279-289 (1990); van der Krol et al., Plant Cell 2:291-299 (1990).

[0076] A "CP4 EPSPS" or "CP4 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase" gene encodes an enzyme (CP4 EPSPS) capable of conferring a substantial degree of glyphosate resistance upon the plant cell and plants generated therefrom. The CP4 EPSPS sequence may be a CP4 EPSPS sequence derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens sp. CP4 or a variant or synthetic form thereof, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435. Representative CP4 EPSPS sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,627,061 and 5,633,435.

[0077] "Crossing", as used herein, refers to the mating of two parent plants.

[0078] "Cross-pollination", as used herein, refers to fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

[0079] "F.sub.1" or "F1", as used herein, refers to first generation progeny of the cross of two plants.

[0080] "F.sub.1 Hybrid" or F1 Hybrid", as used herein, refers to first generation progeny of the cross of two non-isogenic plants.

[0081] "F.sub.2" or "F2", as used herein, refers to second generation progeny of the cross of two plants.

[0082] "F.sub.3" or "F3", as used herein, refers to third generation progeny of the cross of two plants.

[0083] "Crude soybean oil" refers to soybean oil that has been extracted from soybean seeds, but has not been refined, processed, or blended, although it may be degummed.

[0084] "CTP" refers to a chloroplastic transit peptide, encoded by the "chloroplastic transit peptide coding sequence".

[0085] When referring to proteins and nucleic acids herein, "derived" refers to either directly (for example, by looking at the sequence of a known protein or nucleic acid and preparing a protein or nucleic acid having a sequence similar, at least in part, to the sequence of the known protein or nucleic acid) or indirectly (for example, by obtaining a protein or nucleic acid from an organism which is related to a known protein or nucleic acid) obtaining a protein or nucleic acid from a known protein or nucleic acid. Other methods of "deriving" a protein or nucleic acid from a known protein or nucleic acid are known to one of skill in the art.

[0086] Double-stranded RNA ("dsRNA"), double-stranded RNA interference ("dsRNAi") and RNA interference ("RNAi") all refer to gene-specific silencing that is induced by the introduction of a construct capable of transcribing an at least partially double-stranded RNA molecule. A "dsRNA molecule" and an "RNAi molecule" both refer to a region of an RNA molecule containing segments with complementary nucleotide sequences and therefore can hybridize with each other and form double-stranded RNA. Such double-stranded RNA molecules are capable, when introduced into a cell or organism, of at least partially reducing the level of an mRNA species present in a cell or a cell of an organism. In addition, the dsRNA can be created after assembly in vivo of appropriate DNA fragments through illegitimate recombination and site-specific recombination as described in International Application No. PCT/US2005/004681, filed on Feb. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0087] "Exon" refers to the normal sense of the term as meaning a segment of nucleic acid molecules, usually DNA, that encodes part of or all of an expressed protein.

[0088] "FAD2" refers to a gene or encoded protein capable of catalyzing the insertion of a double bond into a fatty acyl moiety at the twelfth position counted from the carboxyl terminus. FAD2 proteins are also referred to as ".DELTA.12 desaturase" or "omega-6 desaturase". The term "FAD2-1" is used to refer to a FAD2 gene or protein that is naturally expressed in a specific manner in seed tissue, and the term "FAD2-2" is used to refer a FAD2 gene or protein that is (a) a different gene from a FAD2-1 gene or protein and (b) is naturally expressed in multiple tissues, including the seed. Representative FAD2 sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, and in SEQ ID NOs: 1-6.

[0089] A "FAD3", ".DELTA.15 desaturase" or "omega-3 desaturase" gene encodes an enzyme (FAD3) capable of catalyzing the insertion of a double bond into a fatty acyl moiety at the fifteenth position counted from the carboxyl terminus. The terms "FAD3-1, FAD3-A, FAD3-B and FAD3-C" are used to refer to FAD3 gene family members that are naturally expressed in multiple tissues, including the seed. Representative FAD3 sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, and in SEQ ID NOs: 7-27.

[0090] A "FATB" or "palmitoyl-ACP thioesterase" refers to a gene that encodes an enzyme (FATB) capable of catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of the carbon-sulfur thioester bond in the panthothene prosthetic group of palmitoyl-ACP as its preferred reaction. Hydrolysis of other fatty acid-ACP thioesters may also be catalyzed by this enzyme. Representative FATB-1 sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/390,185 filed on Jun. 21, 2002; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,955,329; 5,723,761; 5,955,650; and 6,331,664; and SEQ ID NOs: 28-37. Representative FATB-2 sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 42-47.

[0091] "Fatty acid" refers to free fatty acids and fatty acyl groups.

[0092] "Gene" refers to a nucleic acid sequence that encompasses a 5' promoter region associated with the expression of the gene product, any intron and exon regions and 3' or 5' untranslated regions associated with the expression of the gene product.

[0093] "Gene silencing" refers to the suppression of gene expression or down-regulation of gene expression.

[0094] A "gene family" is two or more genes in an organism which encode proteins that exhibit similar functional attributes, and a "gene family member" is any gene of the gene family found within the genetic material of the plant, e.g., a "FAD2 gene family member" is any FAD2 gene found within the genetic material of the plant. An example of two members of a gene family are FAD2-1 and FAD2-2. A gene family can be additionally classified by the similarity of the nucleic acid sequences. A gene, FAD2, for example, includes alleles at that locus. Preferably, a gene family member exhibits at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% nucleic acid sequence identity in the coding sequence portion of the gene.

[0095] "Genotype", as used herein, refers to the genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

[0096] As used herein, "Heterologous" means not naturally occurring together.

[0097] A nucleic acid molecule is said to be "introduced" if it is inserted into a cell or organism as a result of human manipulation, no matter how indirect. Examples of introduced nucleic acid molecules include, but are not limited to, nucleic acids that have been introduced into cells via transformation, transfection, injection, and projection, and those that have been introduced into an organism via methods including, but not limited to, conjugation, endocytosis, and phagocytosis.

[0098] "Intron" refers to the normal sense of the term as meaning a segment of nucleic acid molecules, usually DNA, that does not encode part of or all of an expressed protein, and which, in endogenous conditions, is transcribed into RNA molecules, but which is spliced out of the endogenous RNA before the RNA is translated into a protein. An "intron dsRNA molecule" and an "intron RNAi molecule" both refer to a double-stranded RNA molecule capable, when introduced into a cell or organism, of at least partially reducing the level of an mRNA species present in a cell or a cell of an organism where the double-stranded RNA molecule exhibits sufficient identity to an intron of a gene present in the cell or organism to reduce the level of an mRNA containing that intron sequence.

[0099] A "low saturate" soybean seed oil composition contains between 3.6 and 8 percent saturated fatty acids by weight.

[0100] A "low linolenic" oil composition contains less than about 3% linolenic acid by weight of the total fatty acids by weight.

[0101] A "mid-oleic soybean seed" is a seed having between 55% and 85% oleic acid present in the oil composition of the seed by weight.

[0102] The term "non-coding" refers to sequences of nucleic acid molecules that do not encode part or all of an expressed protein. Non-coding sequences include but are not limited to introns, promoter regions, 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs), and 5' untranslated regions (5'UTRs).

[0103] The term "oil composition" refers to levels of fatty acids.

[0104] "Phenotype", as used herein, refers to the detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, which characteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

[0105] A promoter that is "operably linked" to one or more nucleic acid sequences is capable of driving expression of one or more nucleic acid sequences, including multiple coding or non-coding nucleic acid sequences arranged in a polycistronic configuration.

[0106] "Physically linked" nucleic acid sequences are nucleic acid sequences that are found on a single nucleic acid molecule. A "plant" includes reference to whole plants, plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems, roots, etc.), seeds, and plant cells and progeny of the same. The term "plant cell" includes, without limitation, seed suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. "Plant promoters," include, without limitation, plant viral promoters, promoters derived from plants, and synthetic promoters capable of functioning in a plant cell to promote the expression of an mRNA.

[0107] A "polycistronic gene" or "polycistronic mRNA" is any gene or mRNA that contains transcribed nucleic acid sequences which correspond to nucleic acid sequences of more than one gene targeted for suppression. It is understood that such polycistronic genes or mRNAs may contain sequences that correspond to introns, 5'UTRs, 3'UTRs, transit peptide encoding sequences, exons, or combinations thereof, and that a recombinant polycistronic gene or mRNA might, for example without limitation, contain sequences that correspond to one or more UTRs from one gene and one or more introns from a second gene.

[0108] As used herein, the term "R0", "R0", "R0 generation" or "R0 generation" refers to a transformed plant obtained by regeneration of a transformed plant cell.

[0109] As used herein, the term "R.sub.1" "R1", "R.sub.1 generation" or "R.sub.1 generation" refers to seeds obtained from a selfed transgenic R0 plant. R.sub.1 plants are grown from the R.sub.1 seeds.

[0110] A "seed-specific promoter" refers to a promoter that is active preferentially or exclusively in a seed. "Preferential activity" refers to promoter activity that is substantially greater in the seed than in other tissues, organs or organelles of the plant. "Seed-specific" includes without limitation activity in the aleurone layer, endosperm, and/or embryo of the seed.

[0111] "Sense intron suppression" refers to gene silencing that is induced by the introduction of a sense intron or fragment thereof. Sense intron suppression is described, for example by Fillatti in PCT WO 01/14538 A2.

[0112] "Simultaneous expression" of more than one agent such as an mRNA or protein refers to the expression of an agent at the same time as another agent. Such expression may only overlap in part and may also occur in different tissue or at different levels.

[0113] "Total oil level" refers to the total aggregate amount of fatty acid without regard to the type of fatty acid. As used herein, total oil level does not include the glycerol backbone.

[0114] "Transgene" refers to a nucleic acid sequence associated with the expression of a gene introduced into an organism. A transgene includes, but is not limited to, a gene endogenous or a gene not naturally occurring in the organism.

[0115] A "transgenic plant" is any plant that stably incorporates a transgene in a manner that facilitates transmission of that transgene from a plant by any sexual or asexual method.

[0116] A "zero saturate" soybean seed oil composition contains less than 3.6 percent saturated fatty acids by weight.

[0117] A "loss-of-function mutation" is a mutation in the coding sequence of a gene, which causes the function of the gene product, usually a protein, to be either reduced or completely absent. A loss-of-function mutation can, for instance, be caused by the truncation of the gene product because of a frameshift or nonsense mutation. A phenotype associated with an allele with a loss of function mutation can be either recessive or dominant.

[0118] A cell or organism can have a family of more than one gene encoding a particular enzyme, and the capital letter that follows the gene terminology (A, B, C) is used to designate the family member, i.e., FAD2-1A is a different gene family member from FAD2-1B. Similarly, FAD3-1A, FAD3-1B, and FAD3-1C represent distinct members of the FAD3-1 gene family. Loss of function alleles of various genes are represented in lowercase followed by a minus sign (i.e. fad3-1 b- and fad3-1.alpha.- represent loss of function alleles of the FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C genes, respectively).

[0119] As used herein, any range set forth is inclusive of the end points of the range unless otherwise stated.

[0120] A. Transgenes that Decrease the Expression of the Endogenous Soybean FAD2-1 Gene

[0121] Various transgenes that decrease the expression of the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene can be used to practice the methods of the invention. By suppressing, at least partially reducing, reducing, substantially reducing, or effectively eliminating the expression of the endogenous FAD2 gene, the amount of FAD2 protein available in a plant cell is decreased, i.e. the steady-state levels of the FAD2 protein are reduced. Thus, a decrease in expression of FAD2 protein in the soybean cell can result in an increased proportion of mono-unsaturated fatty acids such as oleate (C18:1). Soybean plants that contain transgenes that decrease the expression of the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and produce seed with increased oleic acid are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,722.

[0122] Various transgenes that decrease the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous soybean FATB gene can be used to practice the methods of the invention for production of soybean plants with a low linolenic, low saturate, mid-oleic acid phenotype. By suppressing, at least partially reducing, reducing, substantially reducing, or effectively eliminating the expression of the endogenous FATB gene, the amount of FATB protein available in a plant cell is decreased, i.e. the steady-state levels of the FATB protein are reduced. When the amount of FATB is decreased in a plant cell, a decreased amount of saturated fatty acids such as palmitate and stearate can be provided. Thus, a decrease of FATB can result in an increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleate (18:1).

[0123] Various methods for decreasing expression of either: 1) the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene(s) or 2) both the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB gene(s) in soybean plants and seed are contemplated by this invention, including, but not limited to, antisense suppression, co-suppression, ribozymes, combinations of sense and antisense (double-stranded RNAi), promoter silencing, and use of DNA binding proteins such as zinc finger proteins. The general practice of these methods with respect to various endogenous plant genes is described in WO 98/53083, WO 01/14538, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,829. Suppression of gene expression in plants, also known as gene silencing, occurs at both the transcriptional level and post-transcriptional level. Certain of these gene silencing mechanisms are associated with nucleic acid homology at the DNA or RNA level. Such homology refers to similarity in DNA or protein sequences within the same species or among different species. Gene silencing occurs if the DNA sequence introduced to a host cell is sufficiently homologous to an endogenous gene that transcription of the introduced DNA sequence will induce transcriptional or post transcriptional gene silencing of the endogenous gene. To practice this invention, DNA sequences with at least 50%, about 60%, or about 70% identical over the entire length of a DNA sequence of a soybean FAD2-1 or FATB coding region or non-coding region, or to a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a soybean FAD2-1 or FATB coding or non-coding region, have sufficient homology for suppression of steady state expression levels of FAD2-1 or FATB when introduced into soybean plants as transgenes. The transgenes of the invention more preferably comprise DNA sequences that are, over their entire length, at least 80% identical; at least 85% identical; at least 90% identical; at least 95% identical; at least 97% identical; at least 98% identical; at least 99% identical; or 100% identical to a soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene coding region or non-coding region, or to a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene coding or non-coding region. The DNA sequences with the above indicated levels of identity to the soybean FAD2-1 or FAT gene(s) may be coding sequences, intron sequences, 3'UTR sequences, 5'UTR sequences, promoter sequences, other non-coding sequences, or any combination of the foregoing. The intron may be located between exons, or located within a 5' or 3' UTR of a plant gene. The coding sequence is preferably a fraction of a protein encoding frame that does not encode a protein with FAD2 enzymatic activity. However, it is recognized that in certain instances, such as in cosuppression, DNA sequences that encode an enzymatically active FAD2 or FATB protein can be used to decrease expression of the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene(s).

[0124] It is also understood that DNA sequences with the above indicated levels of identity to the soybean FAD2-1 gene that are useful in the methods of this invention can be derived from any soybean FAD2 gene, the soybean FAD2-1A gene (SEQ ID NO:4), the soybean FAD2-1A intron (SEQ ID NO:1), Soybean FAD2-1B introns (SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3), the soybean FAD2-2 gene, alleles of the soybean FAD2-1 gene, alleles of the soybean FAD2-2 gene, and from FAD2 genes derived from other leguminous plants such as Medicago sp., Pisum sp., Vicia sp., Phaseolus sp., and Pisum sp. It is thus clear that the DNA sequence with the indicated levels of identity to the soybean FAD2-1 sequence can be derived from multiple sources. DNA sequences with the indicated levels of sequence identity can also be obtained synthetically.

[0125] Similarly, it is also understood that DNA sequences with the above indicated levels of identity to the soybean FATB gene that are useful in the methods of this invention can be derived from any soybean FATB gene, a soybean FATB-1 gene (SEQ ID NO:28), soybean FATB-1 introns (SEQ ID NO:29-35), soybean FATB-1 5'UTR (SEQ ID NO:36), soybean FATB-1 3'UTR (SEQ ID NO:37), the soybean FATB-2 gene (SEQ ID NO:43), alleles of the soybean FATB-1, alleles of the soybean FATB-2 gene, and from FATB genes derived from other leguminous plants such as Medicago sp., Pisum sp., Vicia sp., Phaseolus sp., and Pisum sp. It is thus clear that the DNA sequence with the indicated levels of identity to the soybean FAD2-1 sequence can be derived from multiple sources. DNA sequences with the indicated levels of sequence identity can also be obtained synthetically.

[0126] In the methods of this invention, transgenes specifically designed to produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules with homology to the FAD2-1 gene can also induce FAD2-1 sequence-specific silencing and be used to decrease expression of the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene. The sense strand sequences of the dsRNA can be separated from the antisense sequences by a spacer sequence, preferably one that promotes the formation of a dsRNA molecule. Examples of such spacer sequences include those set forth in Wesley et al., Plant J., 27(6):581-90 (2001), and Hamilton et al., Plant J., 15:737-746 (1988). In a preferred aspect, the spacer sequence is capable of forming a hairpin structure as illustrated in Wesley et al., supra. Particularly preferred spacer sequences in this context are plant introns or parts thereof. A particularly preferred plant intron is a spliceable intron. Spliceable introns include, but are not limited to, an intron selected from the group consisting of PDK intron, FAD3-1A or FAD3-1B intron #5, FAD3 intron #1, FAD3 intron #3A, FAD3 intron #3B, FAD3 intron #3C, FAD3 intron #4, FAD3 intron #5, FAD2 intron #1, and FAD2-2 intron. The sense-oriented, non-coding molecules may be, optionally separated from the corresponding antisense-oriented molecules by a spacer segment of DNA. The spacer segment can be a gene fragment or artificial DNA. The spacer segment can be short to facilitate forming hairpin dsRNA or long to facilitate dsRNA without a hairpin structure. The spacer can be provided by extending the length of one of the sense or antisense molecules as disclosed in US 2005/0176670 A1. Alternatively, a right-border-right-border ("RB-RB") sequence can be created after insertion into the plant genome as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 2005/0183170.

[0127] The transgenes of the invention will typically include a promoter functional in a plant cell, or a plant promoter, that is operably linked to an aforementioned DNA sequence that decreases expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene. Design of such a vector is generally within the skill of the art (See, e.g., Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, Clark (ed.), Springer, New York (1997)). However, it is recognized that constructs or vectors may also contain a promoterless gene that may utilize an endogenous promoter upon insertion. A number of promoters that are active in plant cells have been described in the literature such as the CaMV 35S and FMV promoters. Enhanced or duplicated versions of the CaMV 35S and FMV 35S promoters can also be used to express an aforementioned DNA sequence that decreases expression of an endogenous FAD2-1 gene (Odell et al., Nature 313: 810-812 (1985); U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619). Additional promoters that may be utilized are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,619; 5,391,725; 5,428,147; 5,447,858; 5,608,144; 5,608,144; 5,614,399; 5,633,441; 5,633,435; and 4,633,436. In addition, a tissue specific enhancer can be used with a basal plant promoter. Basal promoters typically comprise a "TATA" box and an mRNA cap site but lack enhancer elements required for high levels of expression.

[0128] Particularly preferred promoters for use in the transgenes of the instant invention are promoters that express a DNA sequence that decreases expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene in seeds or fruits. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment, the promoter used is a seed-specific promoter. Examples of such seed-specific promoters include the 5' regulatory regions from such genes as napin (Kridl et al., Seed Sci. Res. 1:209-219 (1991)), phaseolin, stearoyl-ACP desaturase, 7S.alpha., 7S.alpha.' (Chen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 83:8560-8564 (1986)), USP, arcelin and oleosin. Preferred promoters for expression in the seed are 7S.alpha., 7S.alpha.', napin, and FAD2-1A promoters.

[0129] Constructs or vectors will also typically include a 3' transcriptional terminator or 3' polyadenylation signal that is operably linked to an aforementioned DNA sequence that decreases expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 or FATB gene. The transcriptional termination signal can be any transcriptional termination signal functional in a plant, or any plant transcriptional termination signal. Preferred transcriptional termination signals include, but are not limited to, a pea Rubisco E9 3' sequence, a Brassica napin 3' sequence, a tml 3' sequence, and an Agrobacterium tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid nopaline synthase (NOS) gene 3' sequence. It is understood that this group of exemplary polyadenylation regions is non-limiting and that one skilled in the art could employ other polyadenylation regions that are not explicitly cited here in the practice of this invention.

[0130] Finally, it is also recognized that transgenes of the invention can be inserted in plant transformation vectors that also comprise genes that encode selectable or scoreable markers. The selectable marker gene can be a gene encoding a neomycin phosphotransferase protein, a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase protein, a glyphosate resistant 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) protein, a hygromycin phosphotransferase protein, a dihydropteroate synthase protein, a sulfonylurea insensitive acetolactate synthase protein, an atrazine insensitive Q protein, a nitrilase protein capable of degrading bromoxynil, a dehalogenase protein capable of degrading dalapon, a 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate monoxygenase protein, a methotrexate insensitive dihydrofolate reductase protein, and an aminoethylcysteine insensitive octopine synthase protein. The corresponding selective agents used in conjunction with each gene can be: neomycin (for neomycin phosphotransferase protein selection), phosphinotricin (for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase protein selection), glyphosate (for glyphosate resistant 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) protein selection), hygromycin (for hygromycin phosphotransferase protein selection), sulfadiazine (for a dihydropteroate synthase protein selection), chlorsulfuron (for a sulfonylurea insensitive acetolactate synthase protein selection), atrazine (for an atrazine insensitive Q protein selection), bromoxinyl (for a nitrilase protein selection), dalapon (for a dehalogenase protein selection), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (for a 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate monoxygenase protein selection), methotrexate (for a methotrexate insensitive dihydrofolate reductase protein selection), or aminoethylcysteine (for an aminoethylcysteine insensitive octopine synthase protein selection). A preferred selectable marker gene is a CP4 EPSPS gene that confers resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The scoreable marker gene can be a gene encoding a beta-glucuronidase protein, a green fluorescent protein, a yellow fluorescent protein, a beta-galactosidase protein, a luciferase protein derived from a luc gene, a luciferase protein derived from a lux gene, a sialidase protein, streptomycin phosphotransferase protein, a nopaline synthase protein, an octopine synthase protein or a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase protein.

[0131] The above-described nucleic acid molecules are embodiments which achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. The arrangement of the sequences in the first and second sets of DNA sequences within the nucleic acid molecule is not limited to the illustrated and described arrangements, and may be altered in any manner suitable for achieving the objects, features and advantages of the present invention as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0132] B. Transgenic Organisms, and Methods for Producing Same

[0133] Any of the nucleic acid molecules and constructs of the invention may be introduced into a soybean plant or plant cell in a permanent or transient manner. Methods and technology for introduction of DNA into soybean plant cells are well known to those of skill in the art, and virtually any method by which nucleic acid molecules may be introduced into a cell is suitable for use in the present invention. Non-limiting examples of suitable methods include: chemical methods; physical methods such as microinjection, electroporation, the gene gun, microprojectile bombardment, and vacuum infiltration; viral vectors; and receptor-mediated mechanisms. Other methods of cell transformation can also be used and include but are not limited to introduction of DNA into plants by direct DNA transfer into pollen, by direct injection of DNA into reproductive organs of a plant, or by direct injection of DNA into the cells of immature embryos followed by the rehydration of desiccated embryos.

[0134] Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is a widely applicable system for introducing genes into plant cells. See, e.g., Fraley et al., Bio/Technology 3:629-635 (1985); Rogers et al., Methods Enzymol. 153:253-277 (1987). The region of DNA to be transferred is defined by the border sequences and intervening DNA is usually inserted into the plant genome. Spielmann et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 205:34 (1986). Modern Agrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations. Klee et al., In: Plant DNA Infectious Agents, Hohn and Schell (eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 179-203 (1985). Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean is specifically described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,058.

[0135] Transgenic plants are typically obtained by linking the gene of interest (i.e., in this case a transgene that decreases expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene or that decreases expression of both an FAD2-1 gene or FATB gene) to a selectable marker gene, introducing the linked transgenes into a plant cell, a plant tissue or a plant by any one of the methods described above, and regenerating or otherwise recovering the transgenic plant under conditions requiring expression of said selectable marker gene for plant growth. Exemplary selectable marker genes and the corresponding selective agents have been described in preceding sections of this description of the invention.

[0136] Transgenic plants can also be obtained by linking a gene of interest (i.e. in this case a transgene that decreases expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene or that decreases expression of both an FAD2-1 gene or FATB gene) to a scoreable marker gene, introducing the linked transgenes into a plant cell by any one of the methods described above, and regenerating the transgenic plants from transformed plant cells that test positive for expression of the scoreable marker gene. Exemplary scoreable marker genes have been described in preceding sections of this description of the invention.

[0137] The regeneration, development and cultivation of plants from single plant protoplast transformants or from various transformed explants is well known in the art. See generally, Maliga et al., Methods in Plant Molecular Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1995); Weissbach and Weissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1988). Plants of the present invention can be part of or generated from a breeding program, and may also be reproduced using apomixis. Methods for the production of apomictic plants are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,636.

[0138] A particular method of obtaining low linolenic/mid-oleic soybean plants contemplated herein entails the direct transformation of soybean varieties comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene with a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene. Examples of soybean varieties comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene include A5, C1640, 6P248, N98-44, T27111, T27190, T26767, T26830, and Soyola.TM. soybean (see U.S. Patent Application 20060107348, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850 and Burton et al., Crop Sci. 44:687-688, 2004). It is also contemplated that other soybean lines that comprise at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene and that possess agronomically elite growth and/or yield characteristics produced by the marker-assisted breeding methods disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 20060107348, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850 could be directly transformed with a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene. Alternatively, it is also contemplated that soybean lines that comprise at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene and that are amenable to transformation can be produced by the marker-assisted breeding methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Soybean plants comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene and that are amenable to transformation can also be directly transformed with a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene. Three other low linolenic soybeans that could be directly transformed by the methods of the invention include BARC12, which is a determinant maturity group #3 line, Vistive.TM. soybean lines (Monsanto, St. Louis, Mo., USA), or 0137648/01AHKW-38, which is a yellow hilum L2 NUL line.

[0139] It is also contemplated that the low linolenic soybean plants that are directly transformed with the transgene in the methods of the invention can be derived from soybean germplasm comprising soybean plant genomic regions that contain fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, or both fad3-1b- and fad3-1c-alleles that confer decreased linolenic acid content. Such single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the low linolenic soybean phenotype are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. In certain embodiments, a soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 687, 1129, 1203, 2316, 3292, 3360 or 3743 of SEQ ID NO:62. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C promoter corresponding to nucleotide 334, 364, 385, 387, 393, 729 or 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene. The soybean genomic regions that confer the low linolenic acid content phenotype can also be characterized by both a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61 and a deletion in the FAD3-1c gene sequence. The soybean genomic regions that confer the low linolenic acid content phenotype can also be characterized by both a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61 and a polymorphism in the FAD3-1C promoter, such as a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position corresponding to nucleotide 334, 364, 385, 387, 393, 729 or 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. Soybean germplasm comprising a deletion in the Soybean FAD3-1C gene is useful in the practice of these methods and can be obtained from soybean lines that include but are not limited to soybean lines 6P248, T27111, T27190, T26767, T26830 and A5, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850.

[0140] Detecting the single nucleotide polymorphisms may be carried out by any method, including PCR, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, cleavage fragment length polymorphism analysis and/or DNA sequencing as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Alternatively, the single nucleotide polymorphism can be detected by any one assay selected from the group consisting of single base extension (SBE), allele-specific primer extension sequencing (ASPE), sequencing, universal PCR, allele specific extension, hybridization, mass spectrometry, ligation, extension-ligation, and Flap Endonuclease-mediated assays. Primers and methods for detection of the aforementioned FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C genetic polymorphisms are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Deletions such as those in the FAD3-1C gene can be detected by methods including but not limited to PCR, hybridization, cleavage fragment length polymorphism analysis and/or DNA sequencing-based methods.

[0141] Direct transformation methods as described above can also be used to obtain low linolenic/low saturate/mid-oleic soybean plants. In these methods, the aforementioned low linolenic soybean plants are directly transformed with transgenes that decrease the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous soybean FATB gene for production of soybean plants with a low linolenic, low saturate, mid-oleic acid phenotype.

[0142] Transgenes that may be used in plant transformation or transfection may be any of the transgenes that decrease expression of either: 1) the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene(s) or 2) both the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB gene(s). It is further contemplated that vectors comprising transgenes that decrease expression of either: 1) the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene(s) or 2) both the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB gene(s) can also comprise or be genetically combined with additional transgenes. For example, additional transgenes that express other genes that affect oil composition, pathogen resistance, yield, morphology, protein composition, amino acid composition, starch composition, and phytate level are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850 and can be combined with the transgenes and low linolenic mutants described herein.

[0143] It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. Exemplary nucleic acid molecules have been described in Part A of the Detailed Description, and further non-limiting exemplary nucleic acid molecules are described below and illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, and in the Examples.

[0144] C. Crosses of Soybean Plants Containing Transgenes

[0145] In another aspect, a plant of the invention can be crossed with another plant that is transgenic or non-transgenic. A plant can be crossed with another plant that has an oil composition containing modified levels of fatty acids, for example without limitation, a variety with an oil composition having a lower level of linolenic acid. In a preferred embodiment, a plant of the present invention is crossed with a variety with less than 3% by weight linolenic acid. In another embodiment of the invention, a plant of the present invention is crossed with another plant having greater than 20% by weight stearic acid. Such plants having modified levels of fatty acids are known in the art and described, for example, in Hawkins and Kridl (1998) Plant Journal 13(6):743-752 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,802.

[0146] In particular, crosses of soybean plants comprising a transgene that either decrease the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene or decrease the expression of both the endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB gene(s) with soybean varieties comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene are contemplated by the methods of this invention. Examples of soybean varieties comprising at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene include A5, C1640, 6P248, N98-44, T27111, T27190, T26767, T26830, and Soyola.TM. soybean (see U.S. Patent Application 20060107348, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850 and Burton et al., Crop Sci. 44:687-688, 2004). It is also contemplated that other soybean lines that comprise at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene and that possess agronomically elite growth and/or yield characteristics produced by the marker-assisted breeding methods disclosed in see U.S. Patent Application 20060107348, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850 could be crossed with soybean plants comprising a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene. Three other low linolenic crossing parents that could be used in the methods of the invention include BARC12, which is a determinant maturity group #3 line, Vistive.TM. soybean lines, or 0137648/01AHKW-38, which is a yellow hilum L2 NUL line.

[0147] It is also contemplated that the low linolenic soybean plants used in the cross to the transgene(s) can be derived from soybean germplasm comprising soybean plant genomic regions that contain fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, or both fad3-1b- and fad3-1c-alleles that confer decreased linolenic acid content. Such single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the low linolenic soybean phenotype are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. In certain embodiments, a soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 687, 1129, 1203, 2316, 3292, 3360 or 3743 of SEQ ID NO:62. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1C promoter corresponding to nucleotide 334, 364, 385, 387, 393, 729 or 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. In another embodiment, the soybean genomic region that confers the low linolenic acid content phenotype is characterized by a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene. The soybean genomic regions that confer the low linolenic acid content phenotype can also be characterized by both a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61 and a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene sequence. The soybean genomic regions that confer the low linolenic acid content phenotype can also be characterized by both a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61 and a polymorphism in the FAD3-1C promoter, such as a single nucleotide polymorphism at a position corresponding to nucleotide 334, 364, 385, 387, 393, 729 or 747 of SEQ ID NO:63. Soybean germplasm comprising a deletion in the Soybean FAD3-1C gene is useful in the practice of these methods and can be obtained from soybean lines that include but are not limited to soybean lines 6P248, T27111, T27190, T26767, T26830 and A5, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Tables 3 and 4 of the Examples describe the association of specific polymorphisms with specific soybean germplasm or soybean lines that display low linolenic acid phenotypes.

[0148] Without being limited by theory, it is further noted that certain polymorphisms and deletions in certain FAD3-1C genes are potentially responsible in part for the low linolenic acid phenotypes displayed by soybean plants that carry these polymorphisms or deletions. The SNP at 2021 position in SEQ ID NO:61 is a sense mutation that changes an amino acid residue from Histidine to Tyrosine. The histidine residue has been found to be critical in a number of genes involved with desaturation. This particular SNP found caused a mutation in the motif His-Val-Ile-His-His (SEQ ID NO:64) to His-Val-Ile-His-Tyr (SEQ ID NO:65) in the low linolenic lines. The motif has been associated with a low-linolenic phenotype and is a likely cause for the reduced linolenic acid phenotype observed in soybeans with this polymorphism.

[0149] Detecting the single nucleotide polymorphism may be carried out by any method, including PCR, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, cleavage fragment length polymorphism analysis and/or DNA sequencing as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Alternatively, the single nucleotide polymorphism can be detected by any one of an assay selected from the group consisting of single base extension (SBE), allele-specific primer extension sequencing (ASPE), sequencing, universal PCR, allele specific extension, hybridization, mass spectrometry, ligation, extension-ligation, and Flap Endonuclease-mediated assays. Primers and methods for detection of the aforementioned FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C genetic polymorphisms are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,676, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,850. Deletions such as those in the FAD3-1C gene can be detected by methods including but not limited to PCR, hybridization, cleavage fragment length polymorphism analysis and/or DNA sequencing-based methods.

[0150] Crossing methods as described above can also be used to obtain low linolenic/low saturate/mid-oleic soybean plants. In these methods, the aforementioned low linolenic soybean plants are crossed with soybean plants comprising transgenes that decrease the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous soybean FATB gene for production of soybean plants with a low linolenic, low saturate, mid-oleic acid phenotype.

[0151] It is further contemplated that the crosses of the transgene(s) to the low linolenic soybean lines can be facilitated by linkage of a selectable marker that confers resistance to a herbicide. For example, in crosses of soybean plants that are heterozygous for the transgene with plants that are either homozygous or heterozygous for the allele(s) conferring the low linolenic trait, F1 progeny that are heterozygous for the transgene can be selected by herbicide treatment. Also, F2 plants derived from F1 plants that are heterozygous for the transgene can be enriched for F2 soybean plants that are homozygous for said transgene by subjecting said plurality of F2 plants to herbicide selection for the transgene. Molecular markers that can distinguish soybean plants that are either heterozygous or homozygous for the transgene can also be used to identify soybean plants that are homozygous for the transgene insertion.

[0152] Soybean plants (Glycine max L.) can be crossed by either natural or mechanical techniques. Natural pollination occurs in soybeans either by self pollination or natural cross pollination, which typically is aided by pollinating organisms. In either natural or artificial crosses, flowering and flowering time are an important consideration. Soybean is a short-day plant, but there is considerable genetic variation for sensitivity to photoperiod. The critical day length for flowering ranges from about 13 h for genotypes adapted to tropical latitudes to 24 h for photoperiod-insensitive genotypes grown at higher latitudes. Soybeans seem to be insensitive to day length for 9 days after emergence. Photoperiods shorter than the critical day length are required for 7 to 26 days to complete flower induction.

[0153] Soybean flowers typically are self-pollinated on the day the corolla opens. The stigma is receptive to pollen about 1 day before anthesis and remains receptive for 2 days after anthesis, if the flower petals are not removed. Filaments of nine stamens are fused, and the one nearest the standard is free. The stamens form a ring below the stigma until about 1 day before anthesis, then their filaments begin to elongate rapidly and elevate the anthers around the stigma. The anthers dehisce on the day of anthesis, pollen grains fall on the stigma, and within 10 h the pollen tubes reach the ovary and fertilization is completed. Self-pollination occurs naturally in soybean with no manipulation of the flowers. For the crossing of two soybean plants, it is typically preferable, although not required, to utilize artificial hybridization. In artificial hybridization, the flower used as a female in a cross is manually cross pollinated prior to maturation of pollen from the flower, thereby preventing self fertilization, or alternatively, the male parts of the flower are emasculated using a technique known in the art. Techniques for emasculating the male parts of a soybean flower include, for example, physical removal of the male parts, use of a genetic factor conferring male sterility, and application of a chemical gametocide to the male parts.

[0154] Either with or without emasculation of the female flower, hand pollination can be carried out by removing the stamens and pistil with a forceps from a flower of the male parent and gently brushing the anthers against the stigma of the female flower. Access to the stamens can be achieved by removing the front sepal and keel petals, or piercing the keel with closed forceps and allowing them to open to push the petals away. Brushing the anthers on the stigma causes them to rupture, and the highest percentage of successful crosses is obtained when pollen is clearly visible on the stigma. Pollen shed can be checked by tapping the anthers before brushing the stigma. Several male flowers may have to be used to obtain suitable pollen shed when conditions are unfavorable, or the same male may be used to pollinate several flowers with good pollen shed.

[0155] Genetic male sterility is available in soybeans and may be useful to facilitate hybridization in the context of the current invention, particularly for recurrent selection programs. The distance required for complete isolation of a crossing block is not clear; however, out-crossing is less than 0.5% when male-sterile plants are 12 m or more from a foreign pollen source (Boerma and Moradshahi, Crop Sci., 15:858-861, 1975). Plants on the boundaries of a crossing block probably sustain the most out-crossing with foreign pollen and can be eliminated at harvest to minimize contamination.

[0156] Once harvested, pods are typically air-dried at not more than 38.degree. C. until the seeds contain 13% moisture or less, then the seeds are removed by hand. Seed can be stored satisfactorily at about 25.degree. C. for up to a year if relative humidity is 50% or less. In humid climates, germination percentage declines rapidly unless the seed is dried to 7% moisture and stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. Long-term storage in any climate is best accomplished by drying seed to 7% moisture and storing it at 10.degree. C. or less in a room maintained at 50% relative humidity or in an air-tight container.

[0157] F. Products of the Present Invention

[0158] The plants of the present invention may be used in whole or in part. Preferred plant parts include reproductive or storage parts. The term "plant parts" as used herein includes, without limitation, seed, endosperm, ovule, pollen, roots, tubers, stems, leaves, stalks, fruit, berries, nuts, bark, pods, seeds and flowers. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant part is a seed.

[0159] Any of the plants or parts thereof of the present invention may be processed to produce a feed, meal, protein, or oil preparation. A particularly preferred plant part for this purpose is a seed. In a preferred embodiment the feed, meal, protein or oil preparation is designed for livestock animals, fish or humans, or any combination. Methods to produce feed, meal, protein and oil preparations are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,748, 5,100,679, 5,219,596, 5,936,069, 6,005,076, 6,146,669, and 6,156,227. In a preferred embodiment, the protein preparation is a high protein preparation. Such a high protein preparation preferably has a protein content of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v, and even more preferably 15% w/v.

[0160] In a preferred oil preparation, the oil preparation is a high oil preparation with an oil content derived from a plant or part thereof of the present invention of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v, and even more preferably 15% w/v. In a preferred embodiment the oil preparation is a liquid and of a volume greater than 1, 5, 10 or 50 liters. The present invention provides for oil produced from plants of the present invention or generated by a method of the present invention. Such oil may exhibit enhanced oxidative stability. Also, such oil may be a minor or major component of any resultant product.

[0161] Moreover, such oil may be blended with other oils. In a preferred embodiment, the oil produced from plants of the present invention or generated by a method of the present invention constitutes greater than 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 90% by volume or weight of the oil component of any product. In another embodiment, the oil preparation may be blended and can constitute greater than 10%, 25%, 35%, 50% or 75% of the blend by volume. Oil produced from a plant of the present invention can be admixed with one or more organic solvents or petroleum distillates.

[0162] Seeds of the plants may be placed in a container. As used herein, a container is any object capable of holding such seeds. A container preferably contains greater than about 500, 1,000, 5,000, or 25,000 seeds where at least about 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the seeds are derived from a plant of the present invention. The present invention also provides a container of over about 10,000, more preferably about 20,000, and even more preferably about 40,000 seeds where over about 10%, more preferably about 25%, more preferably 50% and even more preferably about 75% or 90% of the seeds are seeds derived from a plant of the present invention. The present invention also provides a container of over about 10 kg, more preferably about 25 kg, and even more preferably about 50 kg seeds where over about 10%, more preferably about 25%, more preferably about 50% and even more preferably about 75% or 90% of the seeds are seeds derived from a plant of the present invention.

[0163] Soybean seeds produced by the methods of the invention can comprise various oil compositions. An oil produced by soybean seeds produced by the methods of the invention are referred to below as an "oil of the present invention".

[0164] A preferred oil of the present invention has a low saturate oil composition, or a zero saturate oil composition. In other preferred embodiments, oils of the present invention have increased oleic acid levels, reduced saturated fatty acid levels, and reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid levels. In further preferred embodiments, oils of the present invention have increased oleic acid levels and reduced saturated fatty acid levels. In a preferred embodiment, the oil is a soybean oil. The percentages of fatty acid content, or fatty acid levels, used herein refer to percentages by weight.

[0165] In a first embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably has an oil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about 12 to 43% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 8% saturated fatty acids; more preferably has an oil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about 14 to 42% polyunsaturates, and 3 to 6% saturated fatty acids; and even more preferably has an oil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about 16.5 to 43% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 3.6% saturated fatty acids.

[0166] In a second embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably has an oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about 12 to 33% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 8% saturated fatty acids; more preferably has an oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about 14 to 32% polyunsaturates, and 3 to 6% saturated fatty acids; and even more preferably has an oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about 16.5 to 33% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 3.6% saturated fatty acids.

[0167] In a third embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid and about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids.

[0168] In a fourth embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 6% to about 15% by weight linolenic acid; more preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, less than 35% by weight linolenic acid; and even more preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 9% by weight linolenic acid.

[0169] In a fifth embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oil composition that is about 50% to about 85% oleic acid and about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids; more preferably about 50% to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 4% to about 14% by weight linolenic acid; more preferably has an oil composition that is about 50% to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, less than 35% by weight linolenic acid; and even more preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 2% to about 45% by weight linolenic acid.

[0170] In another embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oil composition that is about 65-80% oleic acid, about 3-8% saturates, and about 12-32% polyunsaturates. In another embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oil composition that is about 65-80% oleic acid, about 2-3.5% saturates, and about 16.5-33% polyunsaturates.

[0171] In a particularly preferred embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oil composition that is about 47-83% oleic acid and about 5% saturates; about 60-80% oleic acid and about 5% saturates; about 50-85% oleic and about 2-7% saturates; about 55-85% oleic acid and about 2.5-7% saturates; about 47-88% oleic acid and about 3-7% saturates; about 43-85% oleic acid and about 5-7% saturates; about 81-85% oleic acid and about 5% saturates; about 74-83% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 65-87% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 66-80% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 42-77% oleic acid and about 5-8% saturates; about 60-77% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 70-81% oleic acid and about 5-7% saturates; about 52-71% oleic acid and about 5-7% saturates; about 44-71% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 61-71% oleic acid and about 8% saturates; about 57-71% oleic acid and about 7% saturates; about 23-58% oleic acid and about 8-14% saturates; about 20-70% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 21-35% oleic acid and about 5-6% saturates; or about 19-28% oleic acid and about 5% saturates.

[0172] In other embodiments, the percentage of oleic acid is 50% or greater; 55% or greater; 60% or greater; 65% or greater; 70% or greater; 75% or greater; or 80% or greater; or is a range from 50 to 80%; 55 to 80%; 55 to 75%; 55 to 65%; 60 to 85%; 60 to 80%; 60 to 75%; 60 to 70%; 65 to 85%; 65 to 80%; 65 to 75%; 65 to 70%; or 69 to 73%. Suitable percentage ranges for oleic acid content in oils of the present invention also include ranges in which the lower limit is selected from the following percentages: 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 percent; and the upper limit is selected from the following percentages: 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, or 90 percent.

[0173] In other embodiments, the percentage of linolenic acid in an oil of the present invention is 10% or less; 9% or less; 8% or less; 7% or less; 6% or less; 5% or less; 4.5% or less; 4% or less; 3.5% or less; 3% or less; 3.0% or less; 2.5% or less; or 2% or less; or is a range from 0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to 3%; 0.5 to 4.5%; 0.5% to 6%; 3 to 5%; 3 to 6%; 3 to 8%; 1 to 2%; 1 to 3%; or 1 to 4%.

[0174] In these other embodiments, the percentage of saturated fatty acids in an oil composition of the present invention is 15% or less; 14% or less; 13% or less; 12% or less, 11% or less; 10% or less; 9% or less; 8% or less; 7% or less; 6% or less; 5% or less; 4% or less; or 3.6% or less; or is a range from 2 to 3%; 2 to 3.6%; 2 to 4%; 2 to 8%; 3 to 15%; 3 to 10%; 3 to 8%; 3 to 6%; 3.6 to 7%; 5 to 8%; 7 to 10%; or 10 to 15%.

[0175] In other embodiments, saturated fatty acids in an oil of the present invention includes the combination of the palmitic and stearic fatty acids. In an embodiment, the percentage of saturated fatty acids ranges from about 10% or less; about 9% or less; about 8% or less; about 7% or less; about 6% or less; about 5% or less; about 4.5% or less; about 4% or less; about 3.5% or less; about 3% or less; about 3.0% or less; about 2.5% or less; or about 2% or less; or is a range from 0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to 3%; 0.5 to 4.5%; 0.5 to 6%; 0.5 to 7%; 0.5 to 8%; 0.5 to 9%; 1 to 4%; 1 to 5%; 1 to 6%; 1 to 7%; 1 to 8%; 1 to 9%; 1.5 to 5%; 1.5 to 6%; 1.5 to 7%; 1.5 to 8%; 1.5 to 9%; 2 to 5%; 2 to 6%; 2 to 7%; 2 to 8%; 2 to 9%; 3 to 5%; 3 to 6%; 3 to 7%; 3 to 8%; 3 to 9%; 4 to 7%; 4 to 8%; 4 to 9%; 5 to 7%; 5 to 8%; and 5 to 9%. In these embodiments, suitable percentage ranges for saturated fatty acid content in oils of the present invention also include ranges in which the lower limit is selected from the following percentages: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, or 6.5 percent; and the upper limit is selected from the following percentages: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, or 0.5 percent.

[0176] G. Modulation of Suppression

[0177] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of modulating gene suppression levels. Modulation of gene suppression can result in more or less gene suppression. Suppression of a gene product can be the result from insertion of a construct of the present invention into a plant genome. Similarly, modulation of gene suppression can be the result from insertion of a construct of the present invention into a plant genome. Other examples of methods to modulate gene suppression include, without limitation, antisense techniques, cosuppression, RNA interference (dsRNAi), transgenic animals, hybrids, and ribozymes using a construct of the present invention. The following examples are provided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

[0178] Suppression of a gene can be modulated by altering the length of the transcribable DNA used for suppression, which sequence is derived from the gene targeted for suppression. Many methods can be used for suppressing a gene using post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanisms. Without being limited to the theory, these methods are believed to have in common the expression of an RNA molecule which hybridizes to another RNA molecule. Surprisingly, there can be advantages to using an RNA molecule of particular lengths to modulate or moderate suppression of the steady state expression levels of a targeted endogenous gene.

[0179] Gene suppression of FAD2-1 leads to elevated levels of oleic acid and reduction of linoleic acid levels. When FAD2-1 is heavily suppressed, levels of oleic acid can be greater than 65%, which causes a reduction in palmitic acid and linolenic acid levels. For example, when FAD2-1 is suppressed, oleic acid levels can reach 85% and the combined palmitic and stearic acid levels are reduced to about 10%. Similarly, downregulation of FATB results in decreased levels of saturated fatty acids, primarily palmitate. When FAD2 and FATB are suppressed so that oleic levels are about 85%, saturate levels are about 10%. When FAD2 and FATB are suppressed so that oleic levels are greater than 85%, saturate levels can fall below 10%.

[0180] In light of the present invention, saturate levels can be reduced to less than 10% without enhancing oleic acids above 85%. In one embodiment, the suppression of FAD2 is modulated by reducing the length of FAD2-1 intron introduced into the plant. Less suppression of FAD2 results in moderate levels of oleic acid, approximately 40-85% oleic acid. The suppression of FAD2 is reduced as the length of the FAD2-1 intron fragment introduced is reduced. For example, a FAD2-1 intron reduced in length by at least 100 contiguous nucleotides can reduce the suppression of FAD2 and the corresponding increase in oleic acid and decrease in linoleic acid levels.

[0181] The relationship between the decrease in endogenous gene suppression and the decrease in length of homologous DNA can be determined empirically by introducing different lengths of DNA. For example, the amount of reduction in suppression obtainable by reducing the length of homologous introduced DNA can be determined by deleting increasing portions of the homologous DNA being introduced and assaying for expression of the targeted gene.

[0182] Included in the present invention is a method for moderating suppression of FAD2 while still having a strong reduction of saturate levels in a plant. In such plants, oleic acid levels can range from 40-85%. Similarly, less than full suppression of FATB occurs when the combined 3' and 5' untranslated regions are introduced as compared to when the full-length FATB gene is introduced into a host cell. In a like manner, suppression levels of FATB are reduced when the 5' part of the open reading frame, which mostly encodes the chloroplast transit peptide, is introduced into a host cell. In cells with FAD2 and FATB suppressed using methods according to the present invention, oleic acid levels can be 40-85% while saturate levels can be between 1 to 9 percent.

[0183] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of modulating gene suppression to reduce suppression relative to the suppression from an entire gene element, where an entire gene element can be an entire gene, an entire exon, an entire intron, an entire signal sequence, or an entire UTR, then constructing a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of the endogenous sequence from the gene element; initiating expression of the recombinant nucleic acid molecule in a host cell; and suppressing the endogenous gene with the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. The gene being suppressed can be any gene, including FAD2 and FATB. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of modulating FAD2 or FATB suppression comprising: expressing a partial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence in a host cell, where a FAD2 or FATB gene element is from an endogenous FAD2 or FATB gene in the host cell and a FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence can be a FAD2 or FATB gene, a FAD2 or FATB exon, a FAD2 or FATB intron, a FAD2 or FATB transit peptide coding region, or a FAD2 or FATB UTR; and the partial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence is less than the entire FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence; and suppressing an endogenous FAD2 or FATB with the partial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence, where suppression levels of the FAD2 or FATB endogenous gene in the host cell are less than suppression levels of the FAD2 or FATB endogenous gene in a host cell with a similar genetic background and a second FAD2 or FATB nucleic acid sequence comprising the entire FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence of the FAD2 or FATB gene element.

[0184] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of altering the oil composition of a plant cell by transforming a plant cell with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a DNA sequence that suppresses endogenous expression of FAD2, FATB, or FAD2 and FATB where the DNA sequence comprises a nucleic acid sequence of FAD2, FATB, or FAD2 and FATB that is shorter than the entire sequence of an entire genetic element selected from a gene, an exon, an intron, a transit peptide coding region, a 3'-UTR, a 5'-UTR, and an open reading frame; and growing the plant cell under conditions where transcription of said DNA sequence is initiated, whereby the oil composition is altered relative to a plant cell with a similar genetic background but lacking the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. A gene element of FAD2 or FATB can be shortened in length by 50, 75, 100, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 nucleotides. A length of a gene element of FAD2 or FATB can be 50, 75, 100, 150, 175, 200, 220, 250, 300, 320, 350, 400, 420, 450, 500, 550, 600, 800, or 1000 nucleotides.

[0185] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of enhancing oleic acid content and reducing saturated fatty acid content in a plant seed by: i) shortening the length of an exogenous FAD2 DNA sequence in a host cell until the amount of suppression of FAD2 expression from a transformed plant is at least partially reduced relative to the suppression of FAD2 expression in a host cell with a similar genetic background and an entire exogenous FAD2 gene DNA sequence; and ii) growing a plant with a nucleic acid molecule comprising the shortened FAD2 DNA sequence, where the shortened FAD2 DNA sequence at least partially suppresses endogenous expression of FAD2; and iii) cultivating a plant that produces seed with a reduced saturated fatty acid content relative to seed from a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking the shortened FAD2 DNA sequence. The amount that the exogenous FAD2 DNA sequence is shortened to at least partially reduce suppression of the endogenous FAD2 can be determined empirically by introducing different lengths of DNA. For example, the amount of reduction in suppression obtainable by reducing the length of homologous introduced DNA can be determined by deleting increasing portions of the homologous DNA being introduced and assaying for expression of the targeted gene. The amount of suppression of FAD2 expression can be obtained as an average of three or more, six or more, ten or more, fifteen or more, or twenty or more seeds from a plant.

[0186] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of producing a transformed plant having seed with a reduced saturated fatty acid content by transforming a plant cell with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a DNA sequence that suppresses the endogenous expression of FAD2 and FATB, where the DNA sequence comprises a nucleic acid sequence of FAD2 that is shorter than the entire sequence of an entire genetic element selected from a gene, an exon, an intron, a transit peptide coding region, and a UTR; and growing the transformed plant, where the transformed plant produces seed with a reduced saturated fatty acid content relative to seed from a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking said recombinant nucleic acid molecule.

[0187] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of modulating the fatty acid composition of oil from a seed of a temperate oilseed crop by isolating a genetic element of at least 40 nucleotides in length that is capable of suppressing the expression of an endogenous gene in the fatty acid synthesis pathway; generating more than one shortened fragment of the genetic element; introducing each of the more than one shortened fragments into a plant cell of the temperate oilseed crop to produce transgenic plants; and selecting a transgenic plant comprising a shortened fragment of determined length and sequence that effects a desirable change in seed oil fatty acid composition. In a preferred embodiment, the method above also includes constructing a recombinant DNA construct having at least two shortened fragments of two different endogenous genes that effect different desirable changes in seed oil fatty acid composition; introducing the recombinant DNA construct into a plant cell of the temperate oilseed crop to produce transgenic plants; and selecting a transgenic plant comprising the at least two shortened fragments and a fatty acid composition of oil from a seed having more than one desirable change effected by the at least two shortened fragments.

[0188] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soybean seed exhibiting an oil composition having a strongly reduced saturated fatty acid content and a moderately enhanced oleic acid content having a DNA sequence that suppresses the endogenous expression of FAD2 in a host cell, where the DNA sequence has a nucleic acid sequence of FAD2 that is shorter than the entire sequence of an entire genetic element selected from a gene, an exon, an intron, a transit peptide coding region, and a UTR.

EXAMPLES

[0189] The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Example 1

Isolation of FATB-2 Sequences

[0190] Leaf tissue is obtained from Asgrow soy variety A3244, ground in liquid nitrogen and stored at 80.degree. C. until use. Six ml of SDS Extraction buffer (650 ml sterile ddH20, 100 ml 1M Tris-Cl pH 8, 100 ml 0.25M EDTA, 50 ml 20% SDS, 100 ml 5M NaCl, 4 .mu.l beta-mercaptoethanol) is added to 2 ml of frozen/ground leaf tissue, and the mixture is incubated at 65.degree. C. for 45 minutes. The sample is shaken every 15 minutes. 2 ml of ice-cold 5M potassium acetate is added to the sample, the sample is shaken, and then is incubated on ice for 20 minutes. 3 ml of CHCl.sub.3 is added to the sample and the sample is shaken for 10 minutes.

[0191] The sample is centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes and the supernatant is collected. 2 ml of isopropanol is added to the supernatant and mixed. The sample is then centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes and the supernatant is drained. The pellet is resuspended in 200 .mu.l RNase and incubated at 65.degree. C. for 20 minutes. 300 .mu.l ammonium acetate/isopropanol (1:7) is added and mixed. The sample is then centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes and the supernatant is discarded. The pellet is rinsed with 500 .mu.l 80% ethanol and allowed to air dry. The pellet of genomic DNA is then resuspended in 200 .mu.l T10E1 (10 mM Tris:1 mM EDTA).

[0192] A soy FATB-2 cDNA contig sequence (SEQ ID NO: 42) is used to design thirteen oligonucleotides that span the gene: F1 (SEQ ID NO: 48), F2 (SEQ ID NO: 49), F3 (SEQ ID NO: 50), F4 (SEQ ID NO: 51), F5 (SEQ ID NO: 52), F6 (SEQ ID NO: 53), F7 (SEQ ID NO: 54), R1 (SEQ ID NO: 55), R2 (SEQ ID NO: 56), R3 (SEQ ID NO: 57), R4 (SEQ ID NO: 58), R5 (SEQ ID NO: 59), and R6 (SEQ ID NO: 60). The oligonucleotides are used in pairs for PCR amplification from the isolated soy genomic DNA: pair 1 (F1+R1), pair 2 (F2+R1), pair 3 (F3+R2), pair 4 (F4+R3), pair 5 (F5+R4), pair 6 (F6+R5), and pair 7 (F7+R6). The PCR amplification for pair 5 is carried out as follows: 1 cycle, 95.degree. C. for 10 minutes; 30 cycles, 95.degree. C. for 15 sec, 43.degree. C. for 30 sec, 72.degree. C. for 45 sec; 1 cycle, 72.degree. C. for 7 minutes. For all other oligo pairs, PCR amplifications are carried out as follows: 1 cycle, 95.degree. C. for 10 minutes; 30 cycles, 95.degree. C. for 15 sec, 48.degree. C. for 30 sec, 72.degree. C. for 45 sec; 1 cycle, 72.degree. C. for 7 minutes. Positive fragments are obtained from primer pairs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each fragment is cloned into vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen). Fragments 2, 4, 5 and 6 are confirmed and sequenced. These four sequences are aligned to form a genomic sequence for the FATB-2 gene (SEQ ID NO: 43).

[0193] Four introns are identified in the soybean FATB-2 gene by comparison of the genomic sequence to the cDNA sequence: intron I (SEQ ID NO: 44) spans base 119 to base 1333 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 1215 bp in length; intron II (SEQ ID NO: 45) spans base 2231 to base 2568 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 338 bp in length; intron III (SEQ ID NO: 46) spans base 2702 to base 3342 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 641 bp in length; and intron IV (SEQ ID NO: 47) spans base 3457 to base 3823 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 367 bp in length.

Example 2

Suppression Constructs

2A. FAD2-1 Constructs

[0194] The FAD2-1A intron #1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is cloned into the expression cassette, pCGN3892, in sense and antisense orientations. The vector pCGN3892 contains the soybean 7S promoter and a pea rbcS 3'. Both gene fusions are then separately ligated into pCGN9372, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter. The resulting expression constructs (pCGN5469 sense and pCGN5471 antisense, depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively) are used for transformation of soybean.

[0195] The FAD2-1B intron (SEQ ID NO: 2) is fused to the 3' end of the FAD2-1A intron #1 in plasmid pCGN5468 (contains the soybean 7S promoter fused to the FAD2-1A intron (sense) and a pea rbcS 3') or pCGN5470 (contains the soybean 7S promoter fused to the FAD2-1A intron (antisense) and a pea rbcS 3') in sense and antisense orientation, respectively. The resulting intron combination fusions are then ligated separately into pCGN9372, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter. The resulting expression constructs (pCGN5485, FAD2-1A & FAD2-1B intron sense and pCGN5486, FAD2-1A & FAD2-1B intron antisense) are used for transformation of soybean.

B. FAD3-1Constructs

[0196] FAD3-1A introns #1, #2, #4 and #5 (SEQ ID NOs: 7, 8, 10 and 11, respectively), FAD3-1B introns #3C (SEQ ID NO: 23) and #4 (SEQ ID NO: 24), are all ligated separately into pCGN3892, in sense or antisense orientation. pCGN3892 contains the soybean 7S promoter and a pea rbcS 3'. These fusions are ligated into pCGN9372, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter for transformation into soybean. The resulting expression constructs (pCGN5455, FAD3-1A intron #4 sense; pCGN5459, FAD3-1A intron #4 antisense; pCGN5456, FAD3 intron #5 sense; pCGN5460, FAD3-1A intron #5 antisense; pCGN5466, FAD3-1A intron #2 antisense; pCGN5473, FAD3-1A intron #1 antisense) are used for transformation of soybean.

2C. FatB Constructs

[0197] The soybean FATB-1 intron II sequence (SEQ ID NO: 30) is amplified via PCR using a FATB-1 partial genomic clone as a template. PCR amplification is carried out as follows: 1 cycle, 95.degree. C. for 10 min; 25 cycles, 95.degree. C. for 30 sec, 62.degree. C. for 30 sec, 72.degree. C. for 30 sec; 1 cycle, 72.degree. C. for 7 min. PCR amplification results in a product that is 854 bp long, including reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR product is cloned directly into the expression cassette pCGN3892 in sense orientation, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5' ends of the PCR primers, to form pMON70674. Vector pCGN3892 contains the soybean 7S promoter and a pea rbcS 3'. pMON70674 is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter. The resulting gene expression construct, pMON70678, is used for transformation of soybean using Agrobacterium methods.

2D. Combination Constructs

[0198] Expression constructs are made containing various permutations of: 1) a FAD2-1 sequences alone (for low linolenic, mid-oleic soybean production methods) and 2) combinations of FAD2-1 and FATB DNA sequences. The DNA sequences are any of those described, or illustrated in Table 2, or any other set of DNA sequences that contain various combinations of sense, antisense, or sense and antisense FAD2 and/or FATB non-coding or coding regions so that they are capable of forming dsRNA constructs, sense co-suppression constructs, antisense constructs, or various combinations of the foregoing.

[0199] FIG. 4 depicts DNA sequences which are capable of expressing sense co-suppression or antisense constructs according to the present invention, the non-coding sequences of which are described in Table 1 and 2 below. The non-coding sequences may be single sequences, combinations of sequences (e.g., the 5'UTR linked to the 3'UTR), or any combination of the foregoing. To express a sense co-suppression construct, all of the non-coding sequences are sense sequences, and to express an antisense construct, all of the non-coding sequences are antisense sequences. To express sense and antisense constructs, both sense and antisense non-coding sequences are provided.

[0200] FIG. 5 depict several first sets of DNA sequences which are capable of expressing dsRNA constructs according to the present invention, the non-coding sequences of which are described in Tables 1 and 2 below. The first set of DNA sequences depicted in FIG. 5 comprises pairs of related sense and antisense sequences, arranged such that, e.g., the RNA expressed by the first sense sequence is capable of forming a double-stranded RNA with the antisense RNA expressed by the first antisense sequence. For example, referring to the topmost vector of FIG. 5 and illustrative combination No. 1 (of Table 1), the first set of DNA sequences comprises a sense FAD2-1 sequence, a sense FAD3-1 sequence, an antisense FAD2-1 sequence and an antisense FAD3-1 sequence. Both antisense sequences correspond to the sense sequences so that the expression products of the first set of DNA sequences are capable of forming a double-stranded RNA with each other. The sense sequences may be separated from the antisense sequences by a spacer sequence, preferably one that promotes the formation of a dsRNA molecule. Examples of such spacer sequences include those set forth in Wesley et al., supra, and Hamilton et al., Plant J., 15:737-746 (1988). The promoter is any promoter functional in a plant, or any plant promoter. Non-limiting examples of suitable promoters are described in Part A of the Detailed Description.

[0201] The first set of DNA sequences is inserted in an expression construct in either the sense or anti-sense orientation using a variety of DNA manipulation techniques. If convenient restriction sites are present in the DNA sequences, they are inserted into the expression construct by digesting with the restriction endonucleases and ligation into the construct that has been digested at one or more of the available cloning sites. If convenient restriction sites are not available in the DNA sequences, the DNA of either the construct or the DNA sequences is modified in a variety of ways to facilitate cloning of the DNA sequences into the construct. Examples of methods to modify the DNA include by PCR, synthetic linker or adapter ligation, in vitro site-directed mutagenesis, filling in or cutting back of overhanging 5' or 3' ends, and the like. These and other methods of manipulating DNA are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Illustrative Non-Coding or Coding Sequences (sense or antisense) Combinations First Second Third Fourth 1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C 2 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B 3 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 4 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 5 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C 6 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 7 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B 8 FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B 9 FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C 10 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-1 or B or C sequence 11 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A FATB-1 or B or C sequence 12 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 or B or C sequence 13 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 14 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 15 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 16 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 17 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 18 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 19 FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 20 FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 21 FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 22 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 23 FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C 24 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 25 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B 26 FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B 27 FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C 28 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-2 or B or C sequence 29 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A FATB-2 or B or C sequence 30 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 or B or C sequence 31 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 32 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 33 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 34 FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 35 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 36 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 37 FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 38 FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 39 FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 40 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 41 FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 42 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 FATB-2 43 FAD2-1A FAD2-1B FATB-1 44 FAD2-1A FAD2-1B FATB-1 FATB-2 45 FAD2-1A or B FAD2-1A or B 46 FATB-1 or FATB-2 FATB-1 or FATB-2

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Correlation of SEQ ID NOs with Sequences in Table 1 FAD3- FAD2-1A FAD2-1B FAD3-1A FAD3-1B 1C FATB-1 FATB-2 3'UTR SEQ NO: 5 n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 26 n/a SEQ NO: n/a 16 36 5'UTR SEQ NO: 6 n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 27 n/a SEQ NO: n/a 17 37 5' + 3' UTR Linked n/a Linked Linked SEQ n/a Linked SEQ n/a (or 3' + 5' SEQ NOs: SEQ NOs: NOs: 26 and NOs: 36 UTR) 5 and 6 16 and 17 27 and 37 Intron #1 SEQ NO: 1 SEQ NO: 2 SEQ NO: 7 SEQ NO: 19 n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 29 44 Intron #2 n/a n/a SEQ NO: 8 SEQ NO: 20 n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 30 45 Intron #3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 31 46 Intron #3A n/a n/a SEQ NO: 9 SEQ NO: 21 n/a n/a n/a Intron #3B n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 22 n/a n/a n/a 12 Intron #3C n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 23 n/a n/a n/a 13 Intron #4 n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 24 SEQ SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 47 10 NO: 32 14 Intron #5 n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: 25 n/a SEQ NO: n/a 11 33 Intron #6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQ NO: n/a 34 Intron #7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQ NO: n/a 35

Example 3

3A. Antisense Constructs

[0202] Referring now to FIG. 7, soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 44-47), FATB-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37), and FAD2-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6) are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly in sense and antisense orientation into a vector containing the soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter and a tml 3' termination sequence. The vector is then cut with an appropriate restriction endonuclease and ligated into pMON80612 a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct is depicted in the bottom most construct of FIG. 7 and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

3B. In Vivo Assembly

[0203] An aspect of the present invention includes a DNA construct that assembles into a recombinant transcription unit on a plant chromosome in planta that is capable of forming double-stranded RNA. The assembly of such constructs and the methods for assembling in vivo a recombinant transcription units for gene suppression are described in International Application No. PCT/US2005/00681, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0204] pMON95829 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5' UTR, followed by the FATB-1A chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same vector in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5' UTR, followed by the FATB-1A chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0205] pMON97595 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5' UTR followed by the FATB-1a chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea rubisco E9 3' termination sequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a5' UTR followed by the FATB-1A CTP coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0206] pMON97581 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1a chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1a CTP coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0207] pMON97596 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the 5' 180 bp of the FATB-1a chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the 5' 180 bp of the FATB-1a CTP coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0208] pMON97597 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the 5' 120 bp of the FATB-1a chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the 5' 120 bp of the FATB-1a CTP coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0209] pMON97598 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 340 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1a chloroplast transit peptide ("CTP") coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an enhanced FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 340 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1a CTP coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

[0210] When the two T-DNA segments of the any one of the above constructs (i.e. pMON95829, pMON97595, pMON97581, pMON97597, pMON97598) are inserted into a single locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RB orientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense-oriented soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operably linked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable of forming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A and FATB.

Example 4

Plant Transformation and Analysis

[0211] The constructs of Examples 2 and 3 are stably introduced into soybean (for example, Asgrow variety A4922 or Asgrow variety A3244 or Asgrow variety A3525) by the methods described earlier, including the methods of McCabe et al., Bio/Technology, 6:923-926 (1988), or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformed soybean plants are identified by selection on media containing a selectable agent or herbicide. The herbicide can be glyphosate when a transgene conferring resistance to glyphosate is used. Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with the constructs using gas chromatography.

[0212] For some applications, modified fatty acid compositions are detected in developing seeds, whereas in other instances, such as for analysis of oil profile, detection of fatty acid modifications occurring later in the FAS pathway, or for detection of minor modifications to the fatty acid composition, analysis of fatty acid or oil from mature seeds is performed. Furthermore, analysis of oil and/or fatty acid content of individual seeds may be desirable, especially in detection of oil modification in the segregating R1 seed populations. As used herein, R0 generation indicates the plant arising from transformation/regeneration protocols described herein, the R1 generation indicates seeds grown on the selfed transgenic R0 plant. R1 plants are grown from the R1 seeds.

[0213] Fatty acid compositions are determined for the seed of soybean lines transformed with the constructs of Example 3. One to ten seeds of each of the transgenic and control soybean lines are ground individually using a tissue homogenizer (Pro Scientific) for oil extraction. Oil from ground soybean seed is extracted overnight in 1.5 ml heptane containing triheptadecanoin (0.50 mg/ml). Aliquots of 200 .mu.l of the extracted oil are derivatized to methyl esters with the addition of 500 .mu.l sodium methoxide in absolute methanol. The derivatization reaction is allowed to progress for 20 minutes at 50.degree. C. The reaction is stopped by the simultaneous addition of 500 .mu.l 10% (w/v) sodium chloride and 400 .mu.l heptane. The resulting fatty acid methyl esters extracted in hexane are resolved by gas chromatography (GC) on a Hewlett-Packard model 6890 GC (Palo Alto, Calif.). The GC was fitted with a Supelcowax 250 column (30 m, 0.25 mm id, 0.25 micron film thickness) (Supelco, Bellefonte, Pa.). Column temperature is 175.degree. C. at injection and the temperature programmed from 175.degree. C. to 245.degree. C. to 175.degree. C. at 40.degree. C./min. Injector and detector temperatures are 250.degree. C. and 270.degree. C., respectively.

Example 5

[0214] This example illustrates plant transformation to produce soybean plants with suppressed genes.

[0215] A transformation vector pMON68537 is used to introduce an intron/3'UTR double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean for suppressing the .DELTA.12 desaturase, .DELTA.15 desaturase, and FATB genes. Vector pMON68537 also contains the delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) and the CP4 genes. The pMON68537 vector is designed for plant transformation to suppress FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes and overexpress delta-9 desaturase in soybean. In particular, the construct comprises a 7S alpha promoter operably linked to soybean sense-oriented intron and 3'UTRs, i.e., a FAD2-1A intron #1, a FAD3-1A 3'UTR, a FATB-1 3'UTR, a hairpin loop-forming spliceable intron, and a complementary series of soybean anti-sense-oriented intron and 3'UTR's, i.e., a FATB-1 3'UTR, a FAD3-1A 3'UTR and a FAD2-1A intron #1 and the soybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta-9 desaturase. The vector is stably introduced into soybean (Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI (Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allows transformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on media containing glyphosate herbicide.

[0216] Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with the intron/3'UTR dsRNAi expression constructs using gas chromatography. R1 pooled seed and R1 single seed oil compositions demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean, (See Table 3). For instance, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds; FAD3 suppression provides plants with decreased linolenic acid ester compounds; and FATB suppression provides plants with reduced saturated fatty ester compounds, e.g. palmitates and stearates. Selections can be made from such lines depending on the desired relative fatty acid composition. Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with constructs using gas chromatography.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON68537 Events Construct Event 18:1 18:3 16:0 18:0 18:2 PMON68537 GM_A36305 74.92 4.42 6.35 2.93 10.24 PMON68537 GM_A36305 74.8 4.33 6.57 2.93 10.23 PMON68537 GM_A36305 74.43 3.95 5.98 2.82 11.81 PMON68537 GM_A36305 73.32 3.99 6.79 3.24 11.48 PMON68537 GM_A36305 72.87 4.33 7.06 3.08 11.7 PMON68537 GM_A36305 16.63 9.53 13.5 4.06 55.31 PMON68537 GM_A36305 16.52 9.61 13.92 4.24 54.79 PMON68537 GM_A36305 15.67 9.66 13.64 4.19 55.89 PMON68537 GM_A36306 77.45 3.93 6.76 2.47 8.4 PMON68537 GM_A36306 74.51 4.38 6.58 2.47 10.94 PMON68537 GM_A36306 73.21 4.64 7.04 3.08 11.04 PMON68537 GM_A36306 72.78 4.4 6.97 2.55 12.21 PMON68537 GM_A36306 71.67 4.76 6.94 3.25 12.2 PMON68537 GM_A36306 71.01 4.86 7.64 3.05 12.41 PMON68537 GM_A36306 69.72 4.76 7.66 2.95 13.75 PMON68537 GM_A36306 17.41 8.88 13.35 3.85 55.63 PMON68537 GM_A36307 77.22 3.71 6.8 2.77 8.5 PMON68537 GM_A36307 76.79 3.65 6.76 2.85 8.75 PMON68537 GM_A36307 71.44 4.54 7.2 3.58 12.17 PMON68537 GM_A36307 18.83 8.62 13.94 4.02 53.61 PMON68537 GM_A36307 18.81 8.38 13.27 3.7 54.97 PMON68537 GM_A36307 15.68 9.97 14.06 4.55 54.79 PMON68537 GM_A36307 15.28 10.64 14.68 4.43 53.97 PMON68537 GM_A36307 14.08 9.36 14.39 4.31 56.89 PMON68537 GM_A36309 78.67 3.53 6.09 2.5 8.18 PMON68537 GM_A36309 75.43 3.96 6.7 2.53 10.3 PMON68537 GM_A36309 71.41 4.19 6.92 2.74 13.67 PMON68537 GM_A36309 70.51 4.14 6.85 3.16 14.33 PMON68537 GM_A36309 67.51 5.01 7.45 3.15 15.69 PMON68537 GM_A36309 66.99 4.92 7.15 3.9 15.79 PMON68537 GM_A36309 20.09 8.46 12.41 5 52.97 PMON68537 GM_A36309 15.15 9.73 14.61 3.85 55.79 PMON68537 GM_A36310 74.28 4.77 7.31 1.85 10.9 PMON68537 GM_A36310 74.03 5.43 8.23 1.63 9.66 PMON68537 GM_A36310 73.07 5.09 7.37 1.76 11.75 PMON68537 GM_A36310 71.83 5.04 7.78 1.86 12.54 PMON68537 GM_A36310 68.01 6.26 9.8 1.97 13.13 PMON68537 GM_A36310 67.22 6.28 8.71 3.28 13.45 PMON68537 GM_A36310 65.37 6.87 10.01 1.94 14.9 PMON68537 GM_A36310 15.76 10.09 13.4 4.28 55.52 PMON68537 GM_A36311 77.87 3.56 5.9 2.46 9.05 PMON68537 GM_A36311 75.8 3.87 5.91 2.93 10.22 PMON68537 GM_A36311 75.61 3.71 6.21 2.56 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36311 73.68 4.06 6 3.09 11.98 PMON68537 GM_A36311 72.66 4.11 6.41 3.14 12.48 PMON68537 GM_A36311 70.89 4.39 6.52 3.11 13.93 PMON68537 GM_A36311 70.82 3.97 6.52 3.18 14.29 PMON68537 GM_A36311 16.67 9.39 13.65 4.44 54.77 PMON68537 GM_A36312 78.32 4.3 6.36 1.79 8.16 PMON68537 GM_A36312 77.55 4.46 6.51 2.13 8.23 PMON68537 GM_A36312 77.43 4.17 6.31 1.81 9.24 PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.98 4.29 6.25 2.27 9.05 PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.43 4.55 6.82 2.16 8.96 PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.38 4.5 6.46 2.04 9.54 PMON68537 GM_A36312 75.25 4.27 6.41 1.97 11.06 PMON68537 GM_A36312 18.24 9.43 13.6 3.07 54.75 PMON68537 GM_A36313 80.18 4.07 6.17 2.59 5.85 PMON68537 GM_A36313 79.96 4.16 6.03 2.59 6.11 PMON68537 GM_A36313 78.88 3.9 5.6 2.8 7.65 PMON68537 GM_A36313 78.76 3.92 5.44 2.91 7.82 PMON68537 GM_A36313 77.64 4.22 5.88 2.9 8.25 PMON68537 GM_A36313 76.15 4.14 6.06 3.13 9.42 PMON68537 GM_A36313 19.05 8.87 13.45 3.71 54.03 PMON68537 GM_A36313 18.47 8.46 13.13 3.63 55.41 PMON68537 GM_A36314 80.27 3.17 5.77 3.4 6.03 PMON68537 GM_A36314 79.66 3.24 5.72 3.19 6.91 PMON68537 GM_A36314 79.5 3.45 5.83 3.23 6.74 PMON68537 GM_A36314 77.42 3.52 5.76 3.57 8.42 PMON68537 GM_A36314 77.33 3.71 6.36 3.34 8.01 PMON68537 GM_A36314 76.83 3.71 6.38 3.24 8.59 PMON68537 GM_A36314 16.6 9.3 12.63 4.43 55.99 PMON68537 GM_A36314 15.26 8.59 13.71 4.54 56.84 PMON68537 GM_A36315 20.21 8.25 13.61 3.59 53.37 PMON68537 GM_A36315 17.47 9.22 13.46 3.35 55.57 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.75 9.3 13.61 3.66 55.75 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.54 9.18 13.54 3.88 55.9 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.06 10.07 13.44 4.01 55.42 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.05 9.58 12.82 4.25 56.29 PMON68537 GM_A36315 15.95 10.42 13.12 3.63 55.91 PMON68537 GM_A36315 15.5 10.22 13.25 3.78 56.3 PMON68537 GM_A36316 79.61 3.56 5.79 2.94 6.87 PMON68537 GM_A36316 75.11 4.01 6.45 3.44 9.76 PMON68537 GM_A36316 75.07 4.25 6.74 3.09 9.64 PMON68537 GM_A36316 73.92 3.97 6.53 3.56 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36316 17.26 9.59 13.1 4.26 54.78 PMON68537 GM_A36316 17.15 9.03 12.81 4.04 55.97 PMON68537 GM_A36316 16.62 9.2 13.15 3.99 56.03 PMON68537 GM_A36316 16.6 9.44 13.19 3.95 55.84 PMON68537 GM_A36317 18.96 7.55 13.2 3.75 55.51 PMON68537 GM_A36317 16.19 9.43 13.33 3.96 56.04 PMON68537 GM_A36317 16.05 9.1 14.02 3.94 55.91 PMON68537 GM_A36317 15.33 9.4 13.91 4.22 56.11 PMON68537 GM_A36317 15.28 9.2 13.87 4.27 56.36 PMON68537 GM_A36317 14.58 10.15 13.74 4.38 56.15 PMON68537 GM_A36317 13.95 9.47 13.98 4.76 56.79 PMON68537 GM_A36317 13.91 9.88 14.26 4.62 56.25 PMON68537 GM_A36318 78.82 3.64 5.7 2.77 7.87 PMON68537 GM_A36318 77.94 3.73 5.9 2.94 8.29 PMON68537 GM_A36318 75.18 4.11 6.08 3.48 9.95 PMON68537 GM_A36318 75.1 3.93 6.02 3.04 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36318 75.01 4.22 6.57 3.29 9.72 PMON68537 GM_A36318 74.17 4.2 6.51 3.27 10.68 PMON68537 GM_A36318 73.47 4.27 6.7 3.22 11.16 PMON68537 GM_A36318 30.57 10.54 14.83 5.55 36.92 PMON68537 GM_A36319 80 3.65 5.83 2.31 7.02 PMON68537 GM_A36319 79.89 3.65 5.64 2.35 7.26 PMON68537 GM_A36319 79.4 3.59 5.73 1.76 8.46 PMON68537 GM_A36319 78 3.87 6.11 2.35 8.5 PMON68537 GM_A36319 76.08 4.22 6.5 2.35 9.74 PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.56 3.89 6.41 1.78 11.3 PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.26 4.27 6.47 2.37 10.5 PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.16 4.1 6.48 2.49 10.66 PMON68537 GM_A36320 81.27 3.19 5.84 2.4 6.09 PMON68537 GM_A36320 80.21 3.27 5.18 2.44 7.76 PMON68537 GM_A36320 79.64 3.38 5.5 2.67 7.63 PMON68537 GM_A36320 79.46 3.38 5.82 2.67 7.42 PMON68537 GM_A36320 78.5 3.59 6.24 2.49 8 PMON68537 GM_A36320 73.83 3.79 6.72 2.78 11.74 PMON68537 GM_A36320 73.1 3.95 6.9 2.39 12.48 PMON68537 GM_A36320 22.99 8.03 12.19 4.81 50.89 PMON68537 GM_A36324 75.93 3.77 6.58 2.76 9.76 PMON68537 GM_A36324 75.1 4.05 7.01 2.83 9.8 PMON68537 GM_A36324 17.83 8.79 12.78 4.11 55.49 PMON68537 GM_A36324 16.46 8.88 12.84 4.48 56.29 PMON68537 GM_A36324 16.35 9.25 13.51 4.17 55.66 PMON68537 GM_A36324 15.25 8.99 13.73 4.28 56.69 PMON68537 GM_A36324 14.16 10.17 13.95 4.11 56.58 PMON68537 GM_A36324 13.59 9.87 14.61 4.5 56.33 PMON68537 GM_A36357 80.19 3.03 5.59 3.2 6.62 PMON68537 GM_A36357 79.78 3.19 5.51 3.24 6.89 PMON68537 GM_A36357 78.5 3.55 5.75 3.17 7.71 PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.48 3.68 5.71 3.55 8.23 PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.28 3.79 5.66 3.48 8.46 PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.1 3.51 5.43 3.65 8.99 PMON68537 GM_A36357 71.9 4.24 6.47 3.67 12.39 PMON68537 GM_A36357 17.66 9.32 13.26 4.21 54.51 PMON68537 GM_A36359 77.91 3.35 5.67 3.24 8.53 PMON68537 GM_A36359 77.85 3.29 5.42 3.29 8.87 PMON68537 GM_A36359 76.71 3.65 6.07 3.35 8.95 PMON68537 GM_A36359 71.73 4.01 6.79 3.49 12.68 PMON68537 GM_A36359 69.32 4.51 6.99 3.66 14.13 PMON68537 GM_A36359 68.63 4.44 6.91 3.76 14.89 PMON68537 GM_A36359 18.87 8.03 13.38 3.86 54.81 PMON68537 GM_A36359 16.81 9.83 13.08 4.68 54.55 PMON68537 GM_A36360 79.34 3.29 5.99 3.15 6.88 PMON68537 GM_A36360 75.42 3.47 6.47 3.08 10.26 PMON68537 GM_A36360 75.3 3.86 6.69 3.2 9.64 PMON68537 GM_A36360 74.51 3.8 6.39 3.32 10.67 PMON68537 GM_A36360 21.49 6.95 13.07 3.92 53.46 PMON68537 GM_A36360 20.05 7.4 13.09 3.83 54.57 PMON68537 GM_A36360 16.08 9.14 13.02 4.64 56.03 PMON68537 GM_A36360 15.86 9.07 13.44 4.49 56.04 PMON68537 GM_A36361 82.13 2.83 5.67 3.13 4.81 PMON68537 GM_A36361 80.99 3.2 5.79 3.01 5.64 PMON68537 GM_A36361 74.39 3.85 6.33 3.5 10.59 PMON68537 GM_A36361 18.01 8.46 13.18 3.92 55.41 PMON68537 GM_A36361 17.99 8.11 13.05 4.09 55.7 PMON68537 GM_A36361 17.35 8.31 13.4 4 55.88 PMON68537 GM_A36361 16.81 10.2 12.9 4.32 54.87 PMON68537 GM_A36361 16.55 8.5 13.21 4.22 56.45 PMON68537 GM_A36362 78.05 3.89 6.29 2.81 7.76 PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.89 3.69 6.32 3.12 8.76 PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.1 4 6.57 3.02 9.24 PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.01 4.08 6.24 3.03 9.48 PMON68537 GM_A36362 75.86 3.76 5.68 3.56 9.95 PMON68537 GM_A36362 75.79 4.07 6.43 3.15 9.34 PMON68537 GM_A36362 74.89 4.14 6.63 3.11 10.07 PMON68537 GM_A36362 17.22 8.8 13.75 3.77 55.54 PMON68537 GM_A36363 79.15 3.57 6.2 3.03 6.84 PMON68537 GM_A36363 75.69 3.83 7.07 2.73 9.53 PMON68537 GM_A36363 73.97 4.22 6.82 3.39 10.33 PMON68537 GM_A36363 72.53 4.31 6.64 3.7 11.59 PMON68537 GM_A36363 68.42 4.5 7.05 3.95 14.79 PMON68537 GM_A36363 18.39 8.7 13.61 4.1 54.28 PMON68537 GM_A36363 17.54 8.87 14.08 4.07 54.56 PMON68537 GM_A36363 15.87 9.66 14.56 4.2 54.69 PMON68537 GM_A36365 78.79 3.11 5.87 1.27 9.9 PMON68537 GM_A36365 76.76 3.86 5.79 1.66 10.91 PMON68537 GM_A36365 75.41 3.49 6.06 1.83 12.15 PMON68537 GM_A36365 73.57 3.65 6.11 1.5 14.19 PMON68537 GM_A36365 71.55 3.56 6.62 1.24 16.08 PMON68537 GM_A36365 70.41 4 6.07 2.15 16.33 PMON68537 GM_A36365 66.66 3.9 6.84 1.5 20.21 PMON68537 GM_A36365 63.96 4.22 7.08 2.27 21.52 PMON68537 GM_A36366 75.44 4.33 6.49 3.21 9.32 PMON68537 GM_A36366 74.75 4.21 6.87 2.71 10.33 PMON68537 GM_A36366 74.69 4.65 6.91 3.06 9.65 PMON68537 GM_A36366 73.23 4.89 7.23 2.99 10.52 PMON68537 GM_A36366 72.53 4.76 7.42 3.26 10.85 PMON68537 GM_A36366 67.15 5.05 7.47 3.33 15.87 PMON68537 GM_A36366 65.81 5.6 7.9 3.37 16.09 PMON68537 GM_A36366 62.31 6.19 8.71 3.22 18.55 PMON68537 GM_A36367 80.56 3.3 6.07 2.58 6.34 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.78 3.58 6.47 2.66 8.45 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.78 3.46 6.25 2.84 8.51 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.39 3.81 6.71 2.86 8.11 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.32 3.74 6.17 3.12 8.47 PMON68537 GM_A36367 75.93 3.97 6.23 3.43 9.29 PMON68537 GM_A36367 72.82 4.09 6.85 3.25 11.88 PMON68537 GM_A36367 19.31 7.58 13.7 3.59 55 PMON68537 GM_A36410 21.67 7.62 13.38 3.43 53.1 PMON68537 GM_A36410 20.9 8.33 12.93 3.64 53.33 PMON68537 GM_A36410 20.21 8.04 13.28 3.86 53.66 PMON68537 GM_A36410 20.02 8.71 12.79 3.71 53.87 PMON68537 GM_A36410 18.96 8.95 13.3 3.77 54.15 PMON68537 GM_A36410 18.18 8.98 13.56 3.74 54.66 PMON68537 GM_A36410 17.61 9.29 12.93 4.12 55.13 PMON68537 GM_A36410 16.78 9.8 13.78 3.92 54.83 PMON68537 GM_A36411 75.06 4.33 6.49 2.93 10.08 PMON68537 GM_A36411 74.32 4.46 6.76 2.96 10.38 PMON68537 GM_A36411 73.41 4.76 6.91 3.11 10.78 PMON68537 GM_A36411 73.24 4.87 7.28 2.89 10.67 PMON68537 GM_A36411 22.38 8.17 13.47 3.6 51.51 PMON68537 GM_A36411 18.26 9.07 14.14 3.81 54.02 PMON68537 GM_A36411 17.52 10.1 13.1 4.03 54.36 PMON68537 GM_A36411 17.02 9.71 13.45 4.02 54.89 A3244 A3244 18.29 7.79 13.69 4.15 55.08 A3244 A3244 17.54 8.19 13.32 4.32 55.57 A3244 A3244 17.13 8.13 13.21 4.46 56.04 A3244 A3244 15.47 9.56 13.04 4.43 56.46 A3244 A3244 15.17 8.95 13.79 4.3 56.78 A3244 A3244 15.05 9.03 14.16 4.01 56.8 A3244 A3244 13.51 10.07 12.95 5.07 57.3 A3244 A3244 13.49 9.91 13.31 4.56 57.67

Example 6

FAD2-1/FATB dsRNAi Construct in Transgenic Soybean

[0217] Construct pMON95829 as described in Example 3D is used to introduce a FAD2-1 intron, FATB, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean for suppressing the FAD2 gene and FATB genes. The vector is stably introduced into soybean (Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI (Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allows transformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on media containing glyphosate herbicide. Subsequently, the genomes of transformed plants are screened for concurrent tandem insertion of the first T-DNA and the second T-DNA, i.e. in the "right border to right border" assembly. Screening is done with Southern hybridization mapping methods. Transformed soybean plants containing the preferred configuration in their genome are transferred to a green house for seed production.

[0218] For example, leaf tissue was taken from the R0 plants transformed with construct pMON95829 and Southern analysis is performed. Probes and restriction enzyme digests are chosen in order to identify events containing a right-border-right-border ("RB-RB") assembly of both T-DNAs. Typically, approximately 25% of all transformants have properly assembled RB-RB T-DNAs.

[0219] Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with a pMON95829 construct using gas chromatography as described in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compounds extracted from seeds. First, six R1 seeds taken from soybean plants transformed with construct pMON95829 are harvested, and the fatty acid composition of each single seed is determined. Since R1 plants of each event are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seeds with conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. The positive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooled positive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean (See Table 4). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds and FATB suppression provides plants with reduced saturated fatty ester compounds, e.g. palmitates and stearates.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON95829 events. Construct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON95829 GM_A94247 2.1 2.8 83.0 6.0 5.5 PMON95829 GM_A94296 2.6 2.9 80.6 7.1 5.8 PMON95829 GM_A93590 2.5 2.8 80.4 7.4 5.8 PMON95829 GM_A93437 2.6 2.8 79.8 7.9 6.0 PMON95829 GM_A93517 2.9 2.8 79.5 7.7 6.0 PMON95829 GM_A93647 2.3 3.0 78.6 9.0 6.5 PMON95829 GM_A93670 3.1 2.9 77.3 10.1 6.2 PMON95829 GM_A92396 2.9 2.6 76.0 11.1 7.0 PMON95829 GM_A92455 3.6 3.1 74.9 12.0 5.5 PMON95829 GM_A93678 2.8 3.4 74.0 11.9 7.4 PMON95829 GM_A93640 2.5 2.7 71.6 14.6 7.6 PMON95829 GM_A94937 4.5 3.3 67.2 17.7 7.1 PMON95829 GM_A92481 4.9 2.8 58.1 25.3 8.1 PMON95829 GM_A94306 3.1 3.2 55.9 29.0 7.9 PMON95829 GM_A94211 3.0 2.7 47.0 38.3 8.7

Example 7

[0220] pMON93505 is a construct used for in vivo assembly and has two T-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segment contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1a3' UTR followed by a FATB-1a5' UTR, a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) operably linking to a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3' termination sequence, a Ricinus communis delta 9 desaturase gene (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/00229918 A1, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,078,588) operably linking to a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter and a nos 3' termination sequence, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an eFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3' termination sequence operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and ligated to the FATB-1A 3' UTR followed by a FATB-1a 5' UTR.

[0221] Construct pMON93505 is stably introduced into soybean (Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI (Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allows transformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on media containing glyphosate herbicide. Subsequently, the genomes of transformed plants are screened for concurrent tandem insertion of the first T-DNA and the second T-DNA, i.e. in the "right border to right border" assembly. Screening is done with Southern hybridization mapping methods. Transformed soybean plants containing the preferred configuration in their genome are transferred to a green house for seed production.

[0222] For example, leaf tissue was taken from the R0 plants transformed with construct pMON93505 and Southern analysis is performed. Probes and restriction enzyme digests are chosen in order to identify events containing a right-border-right-border ("RB-RB") assembly of both T-DNAs. Typically, approximately 25% of all transformants have properly assembled RB-RB T-DNAs.

[0223] Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with a pMON93505 construct using gas chromatography as described in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compounds extracted from seeds. First, six R1 seeds taken from soybean plants transformed with construct pMON93505 are harvested, and the fatty acid composition of each single seed is determined. Since R1 plants of each event are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seeds with conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. The positive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooled positive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean (See Table 5). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds. For instance, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds, FAD3 suppression provides plants with decreased linolenic acid ester compounds, and FATB suppression provides plants with reduced saturated fatty ester compounds, e.g. palmitates and stearates.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93505 events Construct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93505 GM_A87814 1.3 1.0 84.9 5.5 6.3 PMON93505 GM_A86449 1.5 0.9 84.9 4.9 6.8 PMON93505 GM_A86032 1.5 1.1 83.5 6.3 7.0 PMON93505 GM_A86159 1.5 0.9 82.8 6.7 7.5 PMON93505 GM_A86178 1.7 1.0 82.5 6.7 7.3 PMON93505 GM_A86075 1.4 0.9 81.4 6.6 8.5 PMON93505 GM_A86303 1.0 0.6 81.4 7.4 8.8 PMON93505 GM_A86454 1.4 0.9 79.9 7.4 8.8 PMON93505 GM_A86799 1.4 1.1 79.4 9.6 7.7 PMON93505 GM_A85997 2.2 2.5 79.3 7.7 7.4 PMON93505 GM_A86058 1.8 1.0 76.8 11.3 8.3 PMON93505 GM_A86274 1.2 0.7 74.6 10.2 11.9 PMON93505 GM_A86325 1.1 0.7 72.8 15.4 9.2 PMON93505 GM_A85969 2.0 0.7 70.7 13.6 12.1 PMON93505 GM_A86033 1.7 0.9 69.1 18.2 9.5 PMON93505 GM_A86372 1.7 1.0 65.7 12.6 17.6 PMON93505 GM_A86403 1.5 0.9 64.6 16.8 15.4 PMON93505 GM_A87803 1.1 0.6 57.7 26.0 13.8 PMON93505 GM_A86036 3.1 1.5 54.8 30.4 9.7 PMON93505 GM_A86269 4.9 1.8 51.4 31.9 9.5

Example 8

Transgenic Soybeans with Altered Fatty Acid Compositions

[0224] pMON97563 contains a soybean 7S.alpha.' promoter operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and linked to a FAD3-1A 5'UTR, followed by a FAD3-1A 3'UTR, linked to a FAD3-1B 5'UTR, followed by a FAD3-1B 3'UTR, linked to a FAD3-1C 5'UTR, followed by a FAD3-1C 3'UTR, followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region, followed by a FATB-2a CTP coding region operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4, operably linking to a FATB-2a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region in the antisense orientation, linked to a FAD3-1C 3'UTR in antisense, followed by a FAD3-1C 5'UTR in antisense, linked to a FAD3-1B 3'UTR in antisense, followed by a FAD3-1B 5'UTR in antisense, linked to a FAD3-1A 3'UTR in antisense, followed by a FAD3-1A 5'UTR in antisense, followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 400 contiguous nucleotides from the 3' end and in the anti-sense orientation, operably linked to a H6 3' polyadenylation segment with a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an eFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3' termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNA molecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used for plant transformation using methods as described herein. Fatty acid compositions are determined from seed of soybean lines transformed with this construct using gas chromatography as described in Example 4. Table 6 gives the compositions of representative seeds. The level of 18:3 is reduced to approximately 1%.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97563 events Construct Event 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97563 GM_A109156 2.21 2.78 85.05 8.48 0.69 PMON97563 GM_A109196 2.07 2.31 84.4 9.42 0.97 PMON97563 GM_A109207 2.24 2.78 83.98 9.36 0.82 PMON97563 GM_A103543 2.21 2.63 83.94 10.28 0.95 PMON97563 GM_A103547 2.06 2.47 83.67 10.47 0.89 PMON97563 GM_A109146 1.71 2.34 81.14 13.71 0.91 PMON97563 GM_A109155 2.33 2.7 80.76 12.28 1.11 PMON97563 GM_A109164 2.07 2.61 78.8 14.6 1 PMON97563 GM_A109170 2.68 1.95 78.78 14.14 1.55 PMON97563 GM_A109277 2.49 3.19 78.19 14.51 0.93 PMON97563 GM_A109194 2.46 2.81 76.62 16.26 0.92 PMON97563 GM_A109177 2.56 2.49 72.64 20.14 1.44 PMON97563 GM_A109201 2.46 2.9 72.21 20.13 1.11 PMON97563 GM_A103550 2.18 2.67 70.84 22.25 1.17 PMON97563 GM_A109203 2.18 2.81 69.93 22.91 0.98

Example 9

Crosses of Mid-Oleic Transgenic Soybean with Low Linolenic Soybean

[0225] A soybean plant of a line with seeds having mid-oleic acid levels in its oil is crossed with a plant from a line with normal oleic acid levels but about 2.8% linolenic acid (18:3). This cross results in a soybean line producing oil with the combined properties, mid-oleic acid and low linolenic acid.

[0226] Briefly, plant breeding was performed as described below. One parent line, a transgenic soybean line, labeled event GM_A22234, contains the plasmid pMON68504 in a chromosome. pMON68504 is a 2T-DNA construct having a 7S promoter operably linked to a FAD2-1A intron #1 (SEQ ID NO: 2; PCT Publication WO 2001014538) in sense orientation in order to partially suppress the endogenous FAD2 gene and a CP4 selectable marker gene. The oil extracted from the seeds of this line contains approximately 65% oleic acid, up from the 20% of conventional soybean oil (see Table 7). Another parent line is a non-transgenic variety 6p248-5 (C1640 line) which has a linolenic acid content of about 3% by weight of total fatty acids in its seeds, as compared to the conventional 8-9% linolenic acid found in normal soybean oil (see Table 7). The reduction in linolenic acid is caused by a fad3-1b-/fad3-1c-double mutant. (See Wilcox, J. R. and J. F. Cavins, Inheritance of low linolenic acid content of the seed of a mutant of Glycine max., Theoretical and Applied Genetics 71: 74-78, 1985).

[0227] Plants of the transgenic line GM_A22234 (used as female) and the mutant line 6p248-5 (used as the male) were crossed. Thirty F1 seeds were produced and planted to produce 2.3 lbs of selfed F2 seeds. Putative triple homozygous seeds were identified from 200 F2 seeds through single seed fatty acid methyl-ester (FAME) analysis of seed chips. Twenty-seven seeds with about 60% 18:1, about 20% 18:2, and about 2-3% 18:3 were identified and planted to produce selfed F3 seeds.

[0228] For marker analysis, F2 leaf tissue samples were collected and established molecular markers for the FAD3 mutant alleles were used to identify double positive plants (plants having both FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C mutations). Three genotypes were targeted for recovery from this experiment: 1) fad3-1b-/fad3-1c-double homozygous mutants; 2) single homozygous plants for the fad3-1c-allele alone; and 3) single homozygous for fad3-1b-allele alone.

[0229] The F2 plants were single plant harvested, and 10 F3 seed sub-samples were analyzed. From 27 seeds with about 60% 18:1 (oleic acid), about 20% 18:2 (linoleic acid), and about 2-3% 18:3 (linolenic acid), 5 plants were identified as putative double-FAD3 mutant and were bulked together for further growth. Table 7 summarizes the F3 seed composition data from 120 F2 plants.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Mid-oleic acid phenotype/fad3 mutant stack- F3 seed fatty acid composition Fatty acid, Relative mole % GOI 18:1 16:0 18:0 18:2 18:3 mid-oleic(GM_A22234), fad3-1b-, 74.3 9.08 3.65 7.89 1.91 Fad3-1c- (6p248-5) fad3-1b-, Fad3-1c- Mutant Parent 30.5 12.3 3.61 50.90 2.3 (6p248-5) ~65% mid-oleic Parent 64.6 9.4 3.61 14.53 7.27 (GM_A22234)

[0230] The triple fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, mid-oleic acid line (GM_AA22234) has 1.9% 18:3 linolenic and 74.3% of oleic acid. The combination of fad3-1b- and fad3-1c-mutants with the transgenic mid-oleic (GM_AA22234) locus leads to further reduction of linolenic and increase of oleic relative to the respective parent lines.

[0231] To evaluate the field efficacy of the triple fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, mid-oleic (GM_AA22234) line, the breeding stack entries were planted in a group block design with the stacks and parental controls grouped and randomized within the testblock, and seed samples were analyzed. A fatty acid profile for the triple fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, mid-oleic (GM_AA22234) stack was generated with F4 field grown seed using single seed FAME. F4 fatty acid profile demonstrated approximately 68% 18:1, 13% total saturates, 16% 18:2 and 2.3% 18:3. Oil and protein levels were similar to the parental lines.

Example 10

Crosses of Mid-Oleic, Low Saturate Transgenic Soybean with Low Linolenic Soybean

[0232] A soybean plant of a line with seeds having mid-oleic acid and low saturates level in its oil is crossed with a plant from a line with normal oleic and saturate levels but about 2.8% linolenic acid (18:3). This cross results in a soybean line producing oil with the combined properties, mid-oleic, low saturated and low linolenic fatty acid levels.

[0233] Briefly, plant breeding was performed as described below. One parent line is a transgenic soybean line harboring recombinant DNA for partial suppression of the endogenous genes FAD2-1 and FATB as well as a CP4 selectable marker gene which renders the plant tolerant to glyphosate. The oil extracted from the seeds of this line contains approximately 55-85% oleic acid, up from the 20% of conventional soybean oil. It also contains less than 8% saturated fatty acids (16:0 plus 18:0), reduced from the conventional 14-16% of normal soybean oil. Another parent line is a non-transgenic variety 6p248-5 (C1640 line) which has about 3% linolenic acid levels in its seeds, as compared to the conventional 8-9% linolenic acid found in normal soybean oil. The reduction in linolenic acid is caused by a fad3-1b-/fad3-1c-double mutant. (See Wilcox, J. R. and J. F. Cavins, Inheritance of low linolenic acid content of the seed of a mutant of Glycine max., Theoretical and Applied Genetics 71: 74-78, 1985.)

[0234] Plants of the transgenic mid-high oleic/low saturate line are crossed with plants from the mutant line 6p248-5. F1 seeds are produced and planted to produce selfed F2 seed. Putative triple homozygous seeds are identified from F2 seeds through single seed fatty acid methyl-ester (FAME) analysis of seed chips. Seeds with combined oil traits are identified and planted to produce selfed F3 seeds. For marker analysis, F2 leaf tissue samples are collected and established molecular markers for the FAD3 mutant alleles are used to identify double positive plants (plants having both FAD3 deletions). F3 seed lots which indicate homozygosity for the transgene locus as well as the two FAD3 mutations are selected and used for line establishment.

[0235] To evaluate the field efficacy of the fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, mid-oleic/low sat lines, the breeding stack entries are planted in a group block design with the stacks and parental controls grouped and randomized within the test block, and seed samples are analyzed. A fatty acid profile for the triple fad3-1b-, fad3-1c-, mid-oleic/low sat stack is determined with F4 field grown seed using single seed FAME. F4 fatty acid profile shows 55-85% 18:1, less than 8% saturates, and 2-3% 18:3. Oil and protein levels are similar to the parental lines.

Example 11

Use of Polymorphisms at FAD3-1b

[0236] To practice the methods of the invention, polymorphisms associated with the soybean FAD3-1B gene can be used to identify the presence of soybean genomic regions associated with certain low linolenic acid phenotypes. A single nucleotide polymorphism at a position corresponding to position 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61 is detected among all the lines in an entire sequence length of 2683 bp (Table 8) and is associated with a low-linolenic acid phenotype. Low-linolenic lines 6P248, T27111, T27190, T26767 and T26830 carry a "T" allele at this position while all other lines carry a "C". Consequently, the presence of a "T" allele can be used to identify the presence of the low linolenic soybean genomic regions in crosses where low linolenic germplasm derived from 6P248, T27111, T27190, T26767 and T26830 are used. Other low-linolenic lines such as A5, Soyola, and N98-4445 carry a wild type allele at this locus, indicating that one or more other loci contribute to the low-linolenic phenotype in the A5, Soyola, and N98-4445 lines.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Polymorphisms at the FAD3-1B locus Lines Position 2021 of SEQ ID NO: 61 Orig seq C 6P248 T T27111 T T27190 T T26767 T T26830 T A5 C C1640 C Soyola C N98-4445 C A2247 C AG1701 C AG1902 C AG2402 C AG2703 C AG3201 C AG3302 C AG3702 C AJB2102J0C C AJB2302K0C C CSR2533 C CSR2622N C CSR3922N C DKB19-51 C DKB23-95 C WP25920 C

Example 12

Identification of Polymorphisms in the FAD3-1C Gene

[0237] To practice the methods of the invention, polymorphisms associated with the soybean FAD3-1C gene are used to identify the presence of soybean genomic regions associated with certain low linolenic acid phenotypes. Four SNPs and one indel (insertion/deletion) are identified at FAD3-1C that are associated with certain low linolenic acid phenotypes (Table 9). The SNPs corresponding to positions 687, 2316, 3743, as well as the indel at 1129 of SEQ ID NO:62 are associated with the low-linolenic phenotype. Low-linolenic lines, Soyola and N98-4445 carry a different allele at positions 687 and 1129 from all the other lines.

[0238] Mutant lines 6P248, T27111, T27190, T26767, T26830 and A5 will fail to amplify with certain FAD3-1C locus-specific primers as there is a large deletion at the FAD3-1C locus in these lines. The failure of these regions to be amplified, coupled with appropriate positive control reactions (i.e. using soybean genomic DNA that contains an intact FAD3-1C gene with FAD3-1C primers from the deleted region as well as use of primers to other non-FAD3-1C genes with the soybean genomic DNA from the FAD3-1C deletion), is diagnostic for FAD3-1C deletions.

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Polymorphisms at the FAD3-1C locus Sequence position Lines 687 1129 1203 2316 3292 3360 3743 6P248 NA NA NA N/A T27111 NA NA NA N/A T27190 NA NA NA N/A T26767 NA NA NA N/A T26830 NA NA NA N/A A5 NA NA NA T C1640 T * A Soyola C T A T C A A N98-4445 C T A A2247 T * A G T * * AG1701 T * A G T * * AG1902 T * A T * * AG2402 T * A G T * * AG2703 T * A AG3201 T * G AG3302 T * A AG3702 T * A AJB2102J0C T * A AJB2302K0C T * A CSR2533 T * A CSR2622N T * G CSR3922N T * A DKB19-51 T * A DKB23-95 T * A WP25920 T * A Note: 1. NA means no amplification

Example 13

Identification of Soybean FAD3-1C Promoter Polymorphisms

[0239] To practice the methods of the invention, polymorphisms associated with the soybean FAD3-1C promoter are used to identify the presence of soybean genomic regions associated with certain low linolenic acid phenotypes. As noted in Table 10, low linolenic lines Soyola and N98-4445 carried a different allele at all seven positions from the other wild-type lines. The presence of these polymorphisms could be used to identify the presence of Soyola or N98-4445 germplasm in crosses to wild type germplasm.

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Polymorphisms at FAD3-1C Promoter Region Position 334 364 385 387 393 729 747 Soyola G C T A C G C N98-4445 G C T A C G C Wildtypes (16 lines) A G G T T T T

[0240] All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0241] All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Sequence CWU 1

1

651420DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(420)FAD2-1A intron 1 1gtaaattaaa ttgtgcctgc acctcgggat atttcatgtg gggttcatca tatttgttga 60ggaaaagaaa ctcccgaaat tgaattatgc atttatatat cctttttcat ttctagattt 120cctgaaggct taggtgtagg cacctagcta gtagctacaa tatcagcact tctctctatt 180gataaacaat tggctgtaat gccgcagtag aggacgatca caacatttcg tgctggttac 240tttttgtttt atggtcatga tttcactctc tctaatctct ccattcattt tgtagttgtc 300attatcttta gatttttcac tacctggttt aaaattgagg gattgtagtt ctgttggtac 360atattacaca ttcagcaaaa caactgaaac tcaactgaac ttgtttatac tttgacacag 4202405DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(405)FAD2-1B intron 1 2gtatgatgct aaattaaatt gtgcctgcac cccaggatat ttcatgtggg attcatcatt 60tattgaggaa aactctccaa attgaatcgt gcatttatat tttttttcca tttctagatt 120tcttgaaggc ttatggtata ggcacctaca attatcagca cttctctcta ttgataaaca 180attggctgta ataccacagt agagaacgat cacaacattt tgtgctggtt accttttgtt 240ttatggtcat gatttcactc tctctaatct gtcacttccc tccattcatt ttgtacttct 300catatttttc acttcctggt tgaaaattgt agttctcttg gtacatacta gtattagaca 360ttcagcaaca acaactgaac tgaacttctt tatactttga cacag 40531704DNAGlycine maxpromoter(1)..(1704)FAD2-1B promoter 3actatagggc acgcgtggtc gacggcccgg gctggtcctc ggtgtgactc agccccaagt 60gacgccaacc aaacgcgtcc taactaaggt gtagaagaaa cagatagtat ataagtatac 120catataagag gagagtgagt ggagaagcac ttctcctttt tttttctctg ttgaaattga 180aagtgttttc cgggaaataa ataaaataaa ttaaaatctt acacactcta ggtaggtact 240tctaatttaa tccacacttt gactctatat atgttttaaa aataattata atgcgtactt 300acttcctcat tatactaaat ttaacatcga tgattttatt ttctgtttct cttctttcca 360cctacataca tcccaaaatt tagggtgcaa ttttaagttt attaacacat gtttttagct 420gcatgctgcc tttgtgtgtg ctcaccaaat tgcattcttc tctttatatg ttgtatttga 480attttcacac catatgtaaa caagattacg tacgtgtcca tgatcaaata caaatgctgt 540cttatactgg caatttgata aacagccgtc cattttttct ttttctcttt aactatatat 600gctctagaat ctctgaagat tcctctgcca tcgaatttct ttcttggtaa caacgtcgtc 660gttatgttat tattttattc tatttttatt ttatcatata tatttcttat tttgttcgaa 720gtatgtcata ttttgatcgt gacaattaga ttgtcatgta ggagtaggaa tatcacttta 780aaacattgat tagtctgtag gcaatattgt cttctttttc ctcctttatt aatatatttt 840gtcgaagttt taccacaagg ttgattcgct ttttttgtcc ctttctcttg ttctttttac 900ctcaggtatt ttagtctttc atggattata agatcactga gaagtgtatg catgtaatac 960taagcaccat agctgttctg cttgaattta tttgtgtgta aattgtaatg tttcagcgtt 1020ggctttccct gtagctgcta caatggtact gtatatctat tttttgcatt gttttcattt 1080tttcttttac ttaatcttca ttgctttgaa attaataaaa caatataata tagtttgaac 1140tttgaactat tgcctattca tgtaattaac ttattcactg actcttattg tttttctggt 1200agaattcatt ttaaattgaa ggataaatta agaggcaata cttgtaaatt gacctgtcat 1260aattacacag gaccctgttt tgtgcctttt tgtctctgtc tttggttttg catgttagcc 1320tcacacagat atttagtagt tgttctgcat acaagcctca cacgtatact aaaccagtgg 1380acctcaaagt catggcctta cacctattgc atgcgagtct gtgacacaac ccctggtttc 1440catattgcaa tgtgctacgc cgtcgtcctt gtttgtttcc atatgtatat tgataccatc 1500aaattattat atcatttata tggtctggac cattacgtgt actctttatg acatgtaatt 1560gagtttttta attaaaaaaa tcaatgaaat ttaactacgt agcatcatat agagataatt 1620gactagaaat ttgatgactt attctttcct aatcatattt tcttgtattg atagccccgc 1680tgtccctttt aaactcccga gaga 170444497DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(4497)FAD2-1A genomic clone 4cttgcttggt aacaacgtcg tcaagttatt attttgttct tttttttttt atcatatttc 60ttattttgtt ccaagtatgt catattttga tccatcttga caagtagatt gtcatgtagg 120aataggaata tcactttaaa ttttaaagca ttgattagtc tgtaggcaat attgtcttct 180tcttcctcct tattaatatt ttttattctg ccttcaatca ccagttatgg gagatggatg 240taatactaaa taccatagtt gttctgcttg aagtttagtt gtatagttgt tctgcttgaa 300gtttagttgt gtgtaatgtt tcagcgttgg cttcccctgt aactgctaca atggtactga 360atatatattt tttgcattgt tcattttttt cttttactta atcttcattg ctttgaaatt 420aataaaacaa aaagaaggac cgaatagttt gaagtttgaa ctattgccta ttcatgtaac 480ttattcaccc aatcttatat agtttttctg gtagagatca ttttaaattg aaggatataa 540attaagagga aatacttgta tgtgatgtgt ggcaatttgg aagatcatgc gtagagagtt 600taatggcagg ttttgcaaat tgacctgtag tcataattac actgggccct ctcggagttt 660tgtgcctttt tgttgtcgct gtgtttggtt ctgcatgtta gcctcacaca gatatttagt 720agttgttgtt ctgcatataa gcctcacacg tatactaaac gagtgaacct caaaatcatg 780gccttacacc tattgagtga aattaatgaa cagtgcatgt gagtatgtga ctgtgacaca 840acccccggtt ttcatattgc aatgtgctac tgtggtgatt aaccttgcta cactgtcgtc 900cttgtttgtt tccttatgta tattgatacc ataaattatt actagtatat cattttatat 960tgtccatacc attacgtgtt tatagtctct ttatgacatg taattgaatt ttttaattat 1020aaaaaataat aaaacttaat tacgtactat aaagagatgc tcttgactag aattgtgatc 1080tcctagtttc ctaaccatat actaatattt gcttgtattg atagcccctc cgttcccaag 1140agtataaaac tgcatcgaat aatacaagcc actaggcatg gtaaattaaa ttgtgcctgc 1200acctcgggat atttcatgtg gggttcatca tatttgttga ggaaaagaaa ctcccgaaat 1260tgaattatgc atttatatat cctttttcat ttctagattt cctgaaggct taggtgtagg 1320cacctagcta gtagctacaa tatcagcact tctctctatt gataaacaat tggctgtaat 1380gccgcagtag aggacgatca caacatttcg tgctggttac tttttgtttt atggtcatga 1440tttcactctc tctaatctct ccattcattt tgtagttgtc attatcttta gatttttcac 1500tacctggttt aaaattgagg gattgtagtt ctgttggtac atattacaca ttcagcaaaa 1560caactgaaac tcaactgaac ttgtttatac tttgacacag ggtctagcaa aggaaacaac 1620aatgggaggt agaggtcgtg tggcaaagtg gaagttcaag ggaagaagcc tctctcaagg 1680gttccaaaca caaagccacc attcactgtt ggccaactca agaaagcaat tccaccacac 1740tgctttcagc gctccctcct cacttcattc tcctatgttg tttatgacct ttcatttgcc 1800ttcattttct acattgccac cacctacttc cacctccttc ctcaaccctt ttccctcatt 1860gcatggccaa tctattgggt tctccaaggt tgccttctca ctggtgtgtg ggtgattgct 1920cacgagtgtg gtcaccatgc cttcagcaag taccaatggg ttgatgatgt tgtgggtttg 1980acccttcact caacactttt agtcccttat ttctcatgga aaataagcca tcgccgccat 2040cactccaaca caggttccct tgaccgtgat gaagtgtttg tcccaaaacc aaaatccaaa 2100gttgcatggt tttccaagta cttaaacaac cctctaggaa gggctgtttc tcttctcgtc 2160acactcacaa tagggtggcc tatgtattta gccttcaatg tctctggtag accctatgat 2220agttttgcaa gccactacca cccttatgct cccatatatt ctaaccgtga gaggcttctg 2280atctatgtct ctgatgttgc tttgttttct gtgacttact ctctctaccg tgttgcaacc 2340ctgaaagggt tggtttggct gctatgtgtt tatggggtgc ctttgctcat tgtgaacggt 2400tttcttgtga ctatcacata tttgcagcac acacactttg ccttgcctca ttacgattca 2460tcagaatggg actggctgaa gggagctttg gcaactatgg acagagatta tgggattctg 2520aacaaggtgt ttcatcacat aactgatact catgtggctc accatctctt ctctacaatg 2580ccacattacc atgcaatgga ggcaaccaat gcaatcaagc caatattggg tgagtactac 2640caatttgatg acacaccatt ttacaaggca ctgtggagag aagcgagaga gtgcctctat 2700gtggagccag atgaaggaac atccgagaag ggcgtgtatt ggtacaggaa caagtattga 2760tggagcaacc aatgggccat agtgggagtt atggaagttt tgtcatgtat tagtacataa 2820ttagtagaat gttataaata agtggatttg ccgcgtaatg actttgtgtg tattgtgaaa 2880cagcttgttg cgatcatggt tataatgtaa aaataattct ggtattaatt acatgtggaa 2940agtgttctgc ttatagcttt ctgcctaaaa tgcacgctgc acgggacaat atcattggta 3000atttttttaa aatctgaatt gaggctactc ataatactat ccataggaca tcaaagacat 3060gttgcattga ctttaagcag aggttcatct agaggattac tgcataggct tgaactacaa 3120gtaatttaag ggacgagagc aactttagct ctaccacgtc gttttacaag gttattaaaa 3180tcaaattgat cttattaaaa ctgaaaattt gtaataaaat gctattgaaa aattaaaata 3240tagcaaacac ctaaattgga ctgattttta gattcaaatt taataattaa tctaaattaa 3300acttaaattt tataatatat gtcttgtaat atatcaagtt ttttttttta ttattgagtt 3360tggaaacata taataaggaa cattagttaa tattgataat ccactaagat cgacttagta 3420ttacagtatt tggatgattt gtatgagata ttcaaacttc actcttatca taatagagac 3480aaaagttaat actgatggtg gagaaaaaaa aatgttattg ggagcatatg gtaagataag 3540acggataaaa atatgctgca gcctggagag ctaatgtatt ttttggtgaa gttttcaagt 3600gacaactatt catgatgaga acacaataat attttctact tacctatccc acataaaata 3660ctgattttaa taatgatgat aaataatgat taaaatattt gattctttgt taagagaaat 3720aaggaaaaca taaatattct catggaaaaa tcagcttgta ggagtagaaa ctttctgatt 3780ataattttaa tcaagtttaa ttcattcttt taattttatt attagtacaa aatcattctc 3840ttgaatttag agatgtatgt tgtagcttaa tagtaatttt ttatttttat aataaaattc 3900aagcagtcaa atttcatcca aataatcgtg ttcgtgggtg taagtcagtt attccttctt 3960atcttaatat acacgcaaag gaaaaaataa aaataaaatt cgaggaagcg cagcagcagc 4020tgataccacg ttggttgacg aaactgataa aaagcgctgt cattgtgtct ttgtttgatc 4080atcttcacaa tcacatctcc agaacacaaa gaagagtgac ccttcttctt gttattccac 4140ttgcgttagg tttctacttt cttctctctc tctctctctc tcttcattcc tcatttttcc 4200ctcaaacaat caatcaattt tcattcagat tcgtaaattt ctcgattaga tcacggggtt 4260aggtctccca ctttatcttt tcccaagcct ttctctttcc ccctttccct gtctgcccca 4320taaaattcag gatcggaaac gaactgggtt cttgaatttc actctagatt ttgacaaatt 4380cgaagtgtgc atgcactgat gcgacccact cccccttttt tgcattaaac aattatgaat 4440tgaggttttt cttgcgatca tcattgcttg aattgaatca tattaggttt agattct 44975206DNAGlycine max3'UTR(1)..(206)FAD2-1A 3' UTR 5tggagcaacc aatgggccat agtgggagtt atggaagttt tgtcatgtat tagtacataa 60ttagtagaat gttataaata agtggatttg ccgcgtaatg actttgtgtg tattgtgaaa 120cagcttgttg cgatcatggt tataatgtaa aaataattct ggtattaatt acatgtggaa 180agtgttctgc ttatagcttt ctgcct 2066125DNAGlycine max5'UTR(1)..(125)FAD2-1A 5' UTR 6ccatatacta atatttgctt gtattgatag cccctccgtt cccaagagta taaaactgca 60tcgaataata caagccacta ggcatgggtc tagcaaagga aacaacaatg ggaggtagag 120gtcgt 1257191DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(191)FAD3-1A intron 1 7gtaataattt ttgtgtttct tactcttttt tttttttttt tgtttatgat atgaatctca 60cacattgttc tgttatgtca tttcttcttc atttggcttt agacaactta aatttgagat 120ctttattatg tttttgctta tatggtaaag tgattcttca ttatttcatt cttcattgat 180tgaattgaac a 1918346DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(346)FAD3-1A intron 2 8ttagttcata ctggcttttt tgtttgttca tttgtcattg aaaaaaaatc ttttgttgat 60tcaattattt ttatagtgtg tttggaagcc cgtttgagaa aataagaaat cgcatctgga 120atgtgaaagt tataactatt tagcttcatc tgtcgttgca agttctttta ttggttaaat 180ttttatagcg tgctaggaaa cccattcgag aaaataagaa atcacatctg gaatgtgaaa 240gttataactg ttagcttctg agtaaacgtg gaaaaaccac attttggatt tggaaccaaa 300ttttatttga taaatgacaa ccaaattgat tttgatggat tttgca 3469142DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(142)FAD3-1A intron 3A 9gtatgtgatt aattgcttct cctatagttg ttcttgattc aattacattt tatttatttg 60gtaggtccaa gaaaaaaggg aatctttatg cttcctgagg ctgttcttga acatggctct 120tttttatgtg tcattatctt ag 142101228DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(1228)FAD3-1A intron 4 10taacaaaaat aaatagaaaa tagtgggtga acacttaaat gcgagatagt aatacctaaa 60aaaagaaaaa aatataggta taataaataa tataactttc aaaataaaaa gaaatcatag 120agtctagcgt agtgtttgga gtgaaatgat gttcacctac cattactcaa agattttgtt 180gtgtccctta gttcattctt attattttac atatcttact tgaaaagact ttttaattat 240tcattgagat cttaaagtga ctgttaaatt aaaataaaaa acaagtttgt taaaacttca 300aataaataag agtgaaggga gtgtcatttg tcttctttct tttattgcgt tattaatcac 360gtttctcttc tctttttttt ttttcttctc tgctttccac ccattatcaa gttcatgtga 420agcagtggcg gatctatgta aatgagtggg gggcaattgc acccacaaga ttttattttt 480tatttgtaca ggaataataa aataaaactt tgcccccata aaaaataaat attttttctt 540aaaataatgc aaaataaata taagaaataa aaagagaata aattattatt aattttatta 600ttttgtactt tttatttagt ttttttagcg gttagatttt tttttcatga cattatgtaa 660tcttttaaaa gcatgtaata tttttatttt gtgaaaataa atataaatga tcatattagt 720ctcagaatgt ataaactaat aataatttta tcactaaaag aaattctaat ttagtccata 780aataagtaaa acaagtgaca attatatttt atatttactt aatgtgaaat aatacttgaa 840cattataata aaacttaatg acaggagata ttacatagtg ccataaagat attttaaaaa 900ataaaatcat taatacactg tactactata taatattcga tatatatttt taacatgatt 960ctcaatagaa aaattgtatt gattatattt tattagacat gaatttacaa gccccgtttt 1020tcatttatag ctcttacctg tgatctattg ttttgcttcg ctgtttttgt tggtcaaggg 1080acttagatgt cacaatatta atactagaag taaatattta tgaaaacatg taccttacct 1140caacaaagaa agtgtggtaa gtggcaacac acgtgttgca tttttggccc agcaataaca 1200cgtgtttttg tggtgtacta aaatggac 122811625DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(625)FAD3-1A intron 5 11gtacatttta ttgcttattc acctaaaaac aatacaatta gtacatttgt tttatctctt 60ggaagttagt cattttcagt tgcatgattc taatgctctc tccattctta aatcatgttt 120tcacacccac ttcatttaaa ataagaacgt gggtgttatt ttaatttcta ttcactaaca 180tgagaaatta acttatttca agtaataatt ttaaaatatt tttatgctat tattttatta 240caaataatta tgtatattaa gtttattgat tttataataa ttatattaaa attatatcga 300tattaatttt tgattcactg atagtgtttt atattgttag tactgtgcat ttattttaaa 360attggcataa ataatatatg taaccagctc actatactat actgggagct tggtggtgaa 420aggggttccc aaccctcctt tctaggtgta catgctttga tacttctggt accttcttat 480atcaatataa attatatttt gctgataaaa aaacatggtt aaccattaaa ttcttttttt 540aaaaaaaaaa ctgtatctaa actttgtatt attaaaaaga agtctgagat taacaataaa 600ctaacactca tttggattca ctgca 6251298DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(98)FAD3-1A intron 3B 12ggtgagtgat tttttgactt ggaagacaac aacacattat tattataata tggttcaaaa 60caatgacttt ttctttatga tgtgaactcc atttttta 9813115DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(115)FAD3-1A intron 3C 13ggtaactaaa ttactcctac attgttactt tttcctcctt ttttttatta tttcaattct 60ccaattggaa atttgaaata gttaccataa ttatgtaatt gtttgatcat gtgca 115141037DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(1037)FAD3-1C intron 4 14gtaacaaaaa taaatagaaa atagtgagtg aacacttaaa tgttagatac taccttcttc 60ttcttttttt tttttttttt gaggttaatg ctagataata gctagaaaga gaaagaaaga 120caaatatagg taaaaataaa taatataacc tgggaagaag aaaacataaa aaaagaaata 180atagagtcta cgtaatgttt ggatttttga gtgaaatggt gttcacctac cattactcaa 240agattctgtt gtctacgtag tgtttggact ttggagtgaa atggtgttca cctaccatta 300ctcagattct gttgtgtccc ttagttactg tcttatattc ttagggtata ttctttattt 360tacatccttt tcacatctta cttgaaaaga ttttaattat tcattgaaat attaacgtga 420cagttaaatt aaaataataa aaaattcgtt aaaacttcaa ataaataaga gtgaaaggat 480catcattttt cttctttctt ttattgcgtt attaatcatg cttctcttct tttttttctt 540cgctttccac ccatatcaaa ttcatgtgaa gtatgagaaa atcacgattc aatggaaagc 600tacaggaacy ttttttgttt tgtttttata atcggaatta atttatactc cattttttca 660caataaatgt tacttagtgc cttaaagata atatttgaaa aattaaaaaa attattaata 720cactgtacta ctatataata tttgacatat atttaacatg attttctatt gaaaatttgt 780atttattatt ttttaatcaa aacccataag gcattaattt acaagaccca tttttcattt 840atagctttac ctgtgatcat ttatagcttt aagggactta gatgttacaa tcttaattac 900aagtaaatat ttatgaaaaa catgtgtctt accccttaac cttacctcaa caaagaaagt 960gtgataagtg gcaacacacg tgttgctttt ttggcccagc aataacacgt gtttttgtgg 1020tgtacaaaaa tggacag 1037154010DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(4010)partial FAD3-1A genomic clone 15acaaagcctt tagcctatgc tgccaataat ggataccaac aaaagggttc ttcttttgat 60tttgatccta gcgctcctcc accgtttaag attgcagaaa tcagagcttc aataccaaaa 120cattgctggg tcaagaatcc atggagatcc ctcagttatg ttctcaggga tgtgcttgta 180attgctgcat tggtggctgc agcaattcac ttcgacaact ggcttctctg gctaatctat 240tgccccattc aaggcacaat gttctgggct ctctttgttc ttggacatga ttggtaataa 300tttttgtgtt tcttactctt tttttttttt ttttgtttat gatatgaatc tcacacattg 360ttctgttatg tcatttcttc ttcatttggc tttagacaac ttaaatttga gatctttatt 420atgtttttgc ttatatggta aagtgattct tcattatttc attcttcatt gattgaattg 480aacagtggcc atggaagctt ttcagatagc cctttgctga atagcctggt gggacacatc 540ttgcattcct caattcttgt gccataccat ggatggttag ttcatactgg cttttttgtt 600tgttcatttg tcattgaaaa aaaatctttt gttgattcaa ttatttttat agtgtgtttg 660gaagcccgtt tgagaaaata agaaatcgca tctggaatgt gaaagttata actatttagc 720ttcatctgtc gttgcaagtt cttttattgg ttaaattttt atagcgtgct aggaaaccca 780ttcgagaaaa taagaaatca catctggaat gtgaaagtta taactgttag cttctgagta 840aacgtggaaa aaccacattt tggatttgga accaaatttt atttgataaa tgacaaccaa 900attgattttg atggattttg caggagaatt agccacagaa ctcaccatga aaaccatgga 960cacattgaga aggatgagtc atgggttcca gtatgtgatt aattgcttct cctatagttg 1020ttcttgattc aattacattt tatttatttg gtaggtccaa gaaaaaaggg aatctttatg 1080cttcctgagg ctgttcttga acatggctct tttttatgtg tcattatctt agttaacaga 1140gaagatttac aagaatctag acagcatgac aagactcatt agattcactg tgccatttcc 1200atgtttgtgt atccaattta tttggtgagt gattttttga cttggaagac aacaacacat 1260tattattata atatggttca aaacaatgac tttttcttta tgatgtgaac tccatttttt 1320agttttcaag aagccccgga aaggaaggct ctcacttcaa tccctacagc aatctgtttc 1380cacccagtga gagaaaagga atagcaatat caacactgtg ttgggctacc atgttttctc 1440tgcttatcta tctctcattc attaactagt ccacttctag tgctcaagct ctatggaatt 1500ccatattggg taactaaatt actcctacat tgttactttt tcctcctttt ttttattatt 1560tcaattctcc aattggaaat ttgaaatagt taccataatt atgtaattgt ttgatcatgt 1620gcagatgttt gttatgtggc tggactttgt cacatacttg catcaccatg gtcaccacca 1680gaaactgcct tggtaccgcg gcaaggtaac aaaaataaat agaaaatagt gggtgaacac 1740ttaaatgcga gatagtaata cctaaaaaaa gaaaaaaata taggtataat aaataatata 1800actttcaaaa taaaaagaaa tcatagagtc tagcgtagtg tttggagtga aatgatgttc 1860acctaccatt actcaaagat tttgttgtgt cccttagttc attcttatta ttttacatat 1920cttacttgaa aagacttttt aattattcat tgagatctta aagtgactgt taaattaaaa 1980taaaaaacaa gtttgttaaa acttcaaata aataagagtg aagggagtgt catttgtctt 2040ctttctttta ttgcgttatt aatcacgttt ctcttctctt tttttttttt cttctctgct 2100ttccacccat tatcaagttc atgtgaagca gtggcggatc tatgtaaatg agtggggggc 2160aattgcaccc acaagatttt attttttatt tgtacaggaa taataaaata aaactttgcc 2220cccataaaaa ataaatattt tttcttaaaa taatgcaaaa taaatataag aaataaaaag 2280agaataaatt attattaatt ttattatttt gtacttttta tttagttttt ttagcggtta 2340gatttttttt tcatgacatt atgtaatctt ttaaaagcat gtaatatttt tattttgtga 2400aaataaatat aaatgatcat attagtctca gaatgtataa actaataata attttatcac 2460taaaagaaat tctaatttag tccataaata agtaaaacaa gtgacaatta tattttatat 2520ttacttaatg tgaaataata cttgaacatt ataataaaac ttaatgacag gagatattac 2580atagtgccat aaagatattt taaaaaataa aatcattaat acactgtact actatataat 2640attcgatata tatttttaac

atgattctca atagaaaaat tgtattgatt atattttatt 2700agacatgaat ttacaagccc cgtttttcat ttatagctct tacctgtgat ctattgtttt 2760gcttcgctgt ttttgttggt caagggactt agatgtcaca atattaatac tagaagtaaa 2820tatttatgaa aacatgtacc ttacctcaac aaagaaagtg tggtaagtgg caacacacgt 2880gttgcatttt tggcccagca ataacacgtg tttttgtggt gtactaaaat ggacaggaat 2940ggagttattt aagaggtggc ctcaccactg tggatcgtga ctatggttgg atcaataaca 3000ttcaccatga cattggcacc catgttatcc accatctttt cccccaaatt cctcattatc 3060acctcgttga agcggtacat tttattgctt attcacctaa aaacaataca attagtacat 3120ttgttttatc tcttggaagt tagtcatttt cagttgcatg attctaatgc tctctccatt 3180cttaaatcat gttttcacac ccacttcatt taaaataaga acgtgggtgt tattttaatt 3240tctattcact aacatgagaa attaacttat ttcaagtaat aattttaaaa tatttttatg 3300ctattatttt attacaaata attatgtata ttaagtttat tgattttata ataattatat 3360taaaattata tcgatattaa tttttgattc actgatagtg ttttatattg ttagtactgt 3420gcatttattt taaaattggc ataaataata tatgtaacca gctcactata ctatactggg 3480agcttggtgg tgaaaggggt tcccaaccct cctttctagg tgtacatgct ttgatacttc 3540tggtaccttc ttatatcaat ataaattata ttttgctgat aaaaaaacat ggttaaccat 3600taaattcttt ttttaaaaaa aaaactgtat ctaaactttg tattattaaa aagaagtctg 3660agattaacaa taaactaaca ctcatttgga ttcactgcag acacaagcag caaaaccagt 3720tcttggagat tactaccgtg agccagaaag atctgcgcca ttaccatttc atctaataaa 3780gtatttaatt cagagtatga gacaagacca cttcgtaagt gacactggag atgttgttta 3840ttatcagact gattctctgc tcctccactc gcaacgagac tgagtttcaa actttttggg 3900ttattattta ttgattctag ctactcaaat tacttttttt ttaatgttat gttttttgga 3960gtttaacgtt ttctgaacaa cttgcaaatt acttgcatag agagacatgg 401016184DNAGlycine max3'UTR(1)..(184)FAD3-1A 3' UTR 16gtttcaaact ttttgggtta ttatttattg gattctagct actcaaatta cttttttttt 60aatgttatgt tttttggagt ttaacgtttt ctgaacaact tgcaaattac ttgcatagag 120agacatggaa tatttatttg aaattagtaa ggtagtaata ataaattttg aattgtcagt 180ttca 18417143DNAGlycine max5'UTR(1)..(143)FAD3-1A 5' UTR 17tgcggttata taaatgcact atcccataag agtatttttc gaagatttcc ttcttcctat 60tctaggtttt tacgcaccac gtatccctga gaaaagagag gaaccacact ctctaagcca 120aagcaaaagc agcagcagca gca 143182683DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(2683)partial FAD3-1B genomic clone 18gttcaagcac agcctctaca acatgttggt aatggtgcag ggaaagaaga tcaagcttat 60tttgatccaa gtgctccacc acccttcaag attgcaaata tcagagcagc aattccaaaa 120cattgctggg agaagaacac attgagatct ctgagttatg ttctgaggga tgtgttggta 180gtgactgcat tggtagctgc agcaatcggc ttcaatagct ggttcttctg gccactctat 240tggcctgcac aaggcacaat gttttgggca ctttttgttc ttggacatga ttggtaacta 300attattatta caaattgtta tgttatgtta tgttatgttg ttgtgccttt ttctcagtga 360tgctttagtc atttcatttc acttggttat gcatgattgt tcgttcatat gttctgtcat 420ggtgagttct aatttgattg atgcatggaa cagtggtcat ggaagttttt caaacagtcc 480tttgttgaac agcattgtgg gccacatctt gcactcttca attcttgtac cataccatgg 540atggtcggtt ccttttagca acttttcatg ttcactttgt ccttaaattt ttttttatgt 600ttgttaaaaa atctttggtc tgatttaaca acctaaccat ttttacaact catggatttt 660ttgcaggaga attagccaca ggactcacca tcagaaccat ggccatgttg agaaggatga 720atcatgggtt ccggtattac tatgagtttg cttgattaat ttccacattt tttctttctt 780cttaatttta atcagtggtt agatttggtt gtgttccgat agaagaaaag ggggtatcta 840gagagatgtg aatttcatga agtggttcat gattatgtgt ctttatgcct ttatgtcagc 900ttacagagaa agtttacaag aatctagaca acatgacaag aatgatgaga ttcactcttc 960ctttccccat ctttgcatac cccttttatt tggtgagacc ctctttttcc agaatgacag 1020cattatttta ctatatagta cctcaatttt tatatttcta aaattttgaa ttcttgaaat 1080tgaaaggaaa ggactttatt gggtctagca tctcactctc tctttgtgat atgaaccata 1140tatttcagtg gagcagaagc cctggaaaag aaggctctca tttcaaccct tacagcaact 1200tgttctctcc tggtgagaga agagatgtgc taacttcaac tctatgttgg ggcatcatgc 1260tttctgtgct tctctatctt tccctcacaa tgggtccact ttttatgctc aagctctatg 1320gggttcccta tttggtaatc tcactctcac actttcttta tacatcgcac gccagtgtgg 1380gttatttgca acctacaccg aagtaatgcc ctataattaa tgaggttaac acatgtccaa 1440gtccaatatt ttgttcactt atttgaactt gaacatgtgt agatcttcgt catgtggctg 1500gatttcgtca cgtacttgca tcatcatggt tacaagcaga aactgccttg gtaccgtggc 1560caggtatccc atttaacaca atttgtttca ttaacatttt aagagaattt ttttttcaaa 1620atagttttcg aaattaagca aataccaagc aaattgttag atctacgctt gtacttgttt 1680taaagtcaaa ttcatgacca aattgtcctc acaagtccaa accgtccact attttatttt 1740cacctacttt atagcccaat ttgccatttg gttacttcag aaaagagaac cccatttgta 1800gtaaatatat tatttatgaa ttatggtagt ttcaacataa aacatactta tgtgcagttt 1860tgccatcctt caaaagaagg tagaaactta ctccatgtta ctctgtctat atgtaatttc 1920acaggaatgg agttatctaa ggggtggtct tacaacagta gatcgcgact atggttggat 1980caacaacatt caccatgaca ttggcaccca tgttatccat caccttttcc ctcaaattcc 2040acattatcat ttaatcgaag cggtattaat tctctatttc acaagaaatt attgtatgtc 2100tgcctatgtg atctaagtca attttcacat aacacatgat caaactttct taattctttc 2160ttctaaattg aaaaagtgga ttatatgtca attgaaaatt ggtcaagacc acaaacatgt 2220gatgatctcc caccttacat ataataattt ctcctattct acaatcaata atccttctat 2280ggtcctgaat tgttcctttc ttttttcatt ttcttattct ttttgttgtc ccacaataga 2340ctaaagcagc aaaggcagtg ctaggaaagt attatcgtga gcctcagaaa tctgggccat 2400tgccacttca tctaataaag tacttgctcc acagcataag tcaggatcac ttcgttagcg 2460actctggcga cattgtgtac taccagactg attcccagct ccacaaagat tcttggaccc 2520agtccaacta aagtttttga tgctacattt acctatttca ctcttaaata ctatttccta 2580tgtaatatgt aatttagaat atgttaccta ctcaaatcaa ttaggtgaca tgtataagct 2640ttcataaatt atgctagaaa tgcacttact tttcaaagca tgc 268319160DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(160)FAD3-1B intron 1 19gtaactaatt attattacaa attgttatgt tatgttatgt tatgttgttg tgcctttttc 60tcagtgatgc tttagtcatt tcatttcact tggttatgca tgattgttcg ttcatatgtt 120ctgtcatggt gagttctaat ttgattgatg catggaacag 16020119DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(119)FAD3-1B intron 2 20gttcctttta gcaacttttc atgttcactt tgtccttaaa ttttttttta tgtttgttaa 60aaaatctttg gtctgattta acaacctaac catttttaca actcatggat tttttgcag 11921166DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(166)FAD3-1B intron 3A 21gtattactat gagtttgctt gattaatttc cacatttttt ctttcttctt aattttaatc 60agtggttaga tttggttgtg ttccgataga agaaaagggg gtatctagag agatgtgaat 120ttcatgaagt ggttcatgat tatgtgtctt tatgccttta tgtcag 16622156DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(156)FAD3-1B intron 3B 22gtgagaccct ctttttccag aatgacagca ttattttact atatagtacc tcaattttta 60tatttctaaa attttgaatt cttgaaattg aaaggaaagg actttattgg gtctagcatc 120tcactctctc tttgtgatat gaaccatata tttcag 15623148DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(148)FAD3-1B intron 3C 23gtaatctcac tctcacactt tctttataca tcgcacgcca gtgtgggtta tttgcaacct 60acaccgaagt aatgccctat aattaatgag gttaacacat gtccaagtcc aatattttgt 120tcacttattt gaacttgaac atgtgtag 14824351DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(351)FAD3-1B intron 4 24taacacaatt tgtttcatta acattttaag agaatttttt tttcaaaata gttttcgaaa 60ttaagcaaat accaagcaaa ttgttagatc tacgcttgta cttgttttaa agtcaaattc 120atgaccaaat tgtcctcaca agtccaaacc gtccactatt ttattttcac ctactttata 180gcccaatttg ccatttggtt acttcagaaa agagaacccc atttgtagta aatatattat 240ttatgaatta tggtagtttc aacataaaac atacttatgt gcagttttgc catccttcaa 300aagaaggtag aaacttactc catgttactc tgtctatatg taatttcaca g 35125277DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(277)FAD3-1B intron 5 25gtattaattc tctatttcac aagaaattat tgtatgtctg cctatgtgat ctaagtcaat 60tttcacataa cacatgatca aactttctta attctttctt ctaaattgaa aaagtggatt 120atatgtcaat tgaaaattgg tcaagaccac aaacatgtga tgatctccca ccttacatat 180aataatttct cctattctac aatcaataat ccttctatgg tcctgaattg ttcctttctt 240ttttcatttt cttattcttt ttgttgtccc acaatag 27726158DNAGlycine max3'UTR(1)..(158)FAD3-1B 3' UTR 26agtttttgat gctacattta cctatttcac tcttaaatac tatttcctat gtaatatgta 60atttagaata tgttacctac tcaaatcaat taggtgacat gtataagctt tcataaatta 120tgctagaaat gcacttactt ttcaaagcat gctatgtc 1582783DNAGlycine max5'UTR(1)..(83)FAD3-1B 5' UTR 27tctaatacga ctcactatag ggcaagcagt ggtatcaacg cagagtacgc gggggtaaca 60gagaaagaaa catttgagca aaa 83284083DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(4083)FATB-1 genomic clone 28gggaaacaac aaggacgcaa aatgacacaa tagcccttct tccctgtttc cagcttttct 60ccttctctct ctccatcttc ttcttcttct tcactcagtc aggtacgcaa acaaatctgc 120tattcattca ttcattcctc tttctctctg atcgcaaact gcacctctac gctccactct 180tctcattttc tcttcctttc tcgcttctca gatccaactc ctcagataac acaagaccaa 240acccgctttt tctgcatttc tagactagac gttctaccgg agaaggttct cgattctttt 300ctcttttaac tttattttta aaataataat aatgagagct ggatgcgtct gttcgttgtg 360aatttcgagg caatggggtt ctcattttcg ttacagttac agattgcatt gtctgctttc 420ctcttctccc ttgtttcttt gccttgtctg atttttcgtt tttatttctt acttttaatt 480tttggggatg gatatttttt ctgcattttt tcggtttgcg atgttttcag gattccgatt 540ccgagtcaga tctgcgccgg cttatacgac gaatttgttc ttattcgcaa cttttcgctt 600gattggcttg ttttacctct ggaatctcac acgtgatcaa ataagcctgc tattttagtt 660gaagtagaat ttgttcttta tcggaaagaa ttctatggat ctgttctgaa attggagcta 720ctgtttcgag ttgctatttt ttttagtagt attaagaaca agtttgcctt ttattttaca 780tttttttcct ttgcttttgc caaaagtttt tatgatcact ctcttctgtt tgtgatataa 840ctgatgtgct gtgctgttat tatttgttat ttggggtgaa gtataatttt ttgggtgaac 900ttggagcatt tttagtccga ttgatttctc gatatcattt aaggctaagg ttgacctcta 960ccacgcgttt gcgtttgatg ttttttccat ttttttttta tctcatatct tttacagtgt 1020ttgcctattt gcatttctct tctttatccc ctttctgtgg aaaggtggga gggaaaatgt 1080attttttttt tctcttctaa cttgcgtata ttttgcatgc agcgacctta gaaattcatt 1140atggtggcaa cagctgctac ttcatcattt ttccctgtta cttcaccctc gccggactct 1200ggtggagcag gcagcaaact tggtggtggg cctgcaaacc ttggaggact aaaatccaaa 1260tctgcgtctt ctggtggctt gaaggcaaag gcgcaagccc cttcgaaaat taatggaacc 1320acagttgtta catctaaaga aggcttcaag catgatgatg atctaccttc gcctcccccc 1380agaactttta tcaaccagtt gcctgattgg agcatgcttc ttgctgctat cacaacaatt 1440ttcttggccg ctgaaaagca gtggatgatg cttgattgga agccacggcg acctgacatg 1500cttattgacc cctttgggat aggaaaaatt gttcaggatg gtcttgtgtt ccgtgaaaac 1560ttttctatta gatcatatga gattggtgct gatcgtaccg catctataga aacagtaatg 1620aaccatttgc aagtaagtcc gtcctcatac aagtgaatct ttatgatctt cagagatgag 1680tatgctttga ctaagatagg gctgtttatt tagacactgt aattcaattt catatataga 1740taatatcatt ctgttgttac ttttcatact atatttatat caactatttg cttaacaaca 1800ggaaactgca cttaatcatg ttaaaagtgc tgggcttctt ggtgatggct ttggttccac 1860gccagaaatg tgcaaaaaga acttgatatg ggtggttact cggatgcagg ttgtggtgga 1920acgctatcct acatggttag tcatctagat tcaaccatta catgtgattt gcaatgtatc 1980catgttaagc tgctatttct ctgtctattt tagtaatctt tatgaggaat gatcactcct 2040aaatatattc atggtaatta ttgagactta attatgagaa ccaaaatgct ttggaaattt 2100gtctgggatg aaaattgatt agatacacaa gctttataca tgatgaacta tgggaaacct 2160tgtgcaacag agctattgat ctgtacaaga gatgtagtat agcattaatt acatgttatt 2220agataaggtg acttatcctt gtttaattat tgtaaaaata gaagctgata ctatgtattc 2280tttgcatttg ttttcttacc agttatatat accctctgtt ctgtttgagt actactagat 2340gtataaagaa tgcaattatt ctgacttctt ggtgttgggt tgaagttaga taagctatta 2400gtattattat ggttattcta aatctaatta tctgaaattg tgtgtctata tttgcttcag 2460gggtgacata gttcaagtgg acacttgggt ttctggatca gggaagaatg gtatgcgtcg 2520tgattggctt ttacgtgact gcaaaactgg tgaaatcttg acaagagctt ccaggtagaa 2580atcattctct gtaattttcc ttcccctttc cttctgcttc aagcaaattt taagatgtgt 2640atcttaatgt gcacgatgct gattggacac aattttaaat ctttcaaaca tttacaaaag 2700ttatggaacc ctttcttttc tctcttgaag atgcaaattt gtcacgactg aagtttgagg 2760aaatcatttg aattttgcaa tgttaaaaaa gataatgaac tacatatttt gcaggcaaaa 2820acctctaatt gaacaaactg aacattgtat cttagtttat ttatcagact ttatcatgtg 2880tactgatgca tcaccttgga gcttgtaatg aattacatat tagcattttc tgaactgtat 2940gttatggttt tggtgatcta cagtgtttgg gtcatgatga ataagctgac acggaggctg 3000tctaaaattc cagaagaagt cagacaggag ataggatctt attttgtgga ttctgatcca 3060attctagaag aggataacag aaaactgact aaacttgacg acaacacagc ggattatatt 3120cgtaccggtt taagtgtatg tcaactagtt tttttgtaat tgttgtcatt aatttctttt 3180cttaaattat ttcagatgtt gctttctaat tagtttacat tatgtatctt cattcttcca 3240gtctaggtgg agtgatctag atatcaatca gcatgtcaac aatgtgaagt acattgactg 3300gattctggag gtatttttct gttcttgtat tctaatccac tgcagtcctt gttttgttgt 3360taaccaaagg actgtccttt gattgtttgc agagtgctcc acagccaatc ttggagagtc 3420atgagctttc ttccgtgact ttagagtata ggagggagtg tggtagggac agtgtgctgg 3480attccctgac tgctgtatct ggggccgaca tgggcaatct agctcacagt ggacatgttg 3540agtgcaagca tttgcttcga ctcgaaaatg gtgctgagat tgtgaggggc aggactgagt 3600ggaggcccaa acctatgaac aacattggtg ttgtgaacca ggttccagca gaaagcacct 3660aagattttga aatggttaac ggttggagtt gcatcagtct ccttgctatg tttagactta 3720ttctggcctc tggggagagt tttgcttgtg tctgtccaat caatctacat atctttatat 3780ccttctaatt tgtgttactt tggtgggtaa gggggaaaag ctgcagtaaa cctcattctc 3840tctttctgct gctccatatt tcatttcatc tctgattgcg ctactgctag gctgtcttca 3900atatttaatt gcttgatcaa aatagctagg catgtatatt attattcttt tctcttggct 3960caattaaaga tgcaattttc attgtgaaca cagcataact attattctta ttatttttgt 4020atagcctgta tgcacgaatg acttgtccat ccaatacaac cgtgattgta tgctccagct 4080cag 408329109DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(109)FATB-1 intron I 29gtacgcaaac aaatctgcta ttcattcatt cattcctctt tctctctgat cgcaaactgc 60acctctacgc tccactcttc tcattttctc ttcctttctc gcttctcag 10930836DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(836)FATB-1 intron II 30gttctcgatt cttttctctt ttaactttat ttttaaaata ataataatga gagctggatg 60cgtctgttcg ttgtgaattt cgaggcaatg gggttctcat tttcgttaca gttacagatt 120gcattgtctg ctttcctctt ctcccttgtt tctttgcctt gtctgatttt tcgtttttat 180ttcttacttt taatttttgg ggatggatat tttttctgca ttttttcggt ttgcgatgtt 240ttcaggattc cgattccgag tcagatctgc gccggcttat acgacgaatt tgttcttatt 300cgcaactttt cgcttgattg gcttgtttta cctctggaat ctcacacgtg atcaaataag 360cctgctattt tagttgaagt agaatttgtt ctttatcgga aagaattcta tggatctgtt 420ctgaaattgg agctactgtt tcgagttgct atttttttta gtagtattaa gaacaagttt 480gccttttatt ttacattttt ttcctttgct tttgccaaaa gtttttatga tcactctctt 540ctgtttgtga tataactgat gtgctgtgct gttattattt gttatttggg gtgaagtata 600attttttggg tgaacttgga gcatttttag tccgattgat ttctcgatat catttaaggc 660taaggttgac ctctaccacg cgtttgcgtt tgatgttttt tccatttttt ttttatctca 720tatcttttac agtgtttgcc tatttgcatt tctcttcttt atcccctttc tgtggaaggt 780gggagggaaa atgtattttt tttttctctt ctaacttgcg tatattttgc atgcag 83631169DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(169)FATB-1 intron III 31gtaagtccgt cctcatacaa gtgaatcttt atgatcttca gagatgagta tgctttgact 60aagatagggc tgtttattta gacactgtaa ttcaatttca tatatagata atatcattct 120gttgttactt ttcatactat atttatatca actatttgct taacaacag 16932525DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(525)FATB-1 intron IV 32gttagtcatc tagattcaac cattacatgt gatttgcaat gtatccatgt taagctgcta 60tttctctgtc tattttagta atctttatga ggaatgatca ctcctaaata tattcatggt 120aattattgag acttaattat gagaaccaaa atgctttgga aatttgtctg ggatgaaaat 180tgattagata cacaagcttt atacatgatg aactatggga aaccttgtgc aacagagcta 240ttgatctgta caagagatgt agtatagcat taattacatg ttattagata aggtgactta 300tccttgttta attattgtaa aaatagaagc tgatactatg tattctttgc atttgttttc 360ttaccagtta tatataccct ctgttctgtt tgagtactac tagatgtata aagaatgcaa 420ttattctgac ttcttggtgt tgggttgaag ttagataagc tattagtatt attatggtta 480ttctaaatct aattatctga aattgtgtgt ctatatttgc ttcag 52533389DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(389)FATB-1 intron V 33gtagaaatca ttctctgtaa ttttccttcc cctttccttc tgcttcaagc aaattttaag 60atgtgtatct taatgtgcac gatgctgatt ggacacaatt ttaaatcttt caaacattta 120caaaagttat ggaacccttt cttttctctc ttgaagatgc aaatttgtca cgactgaagt 180ttgaggaaat catttgaatt ttgcaatgtt aaaaaagata atgaactaca tattttgcag 240gcaaaaacct ctaattgaac aaactgaaca ttgtatctta gtttatttat cagactttat 300catgtgtact gatgcatcac cttggagctt gtaatgaatt acatattagc attttctgaa 360ctgtatgtta tggttttggt gatctacag 38934106DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(106)FATB-1 intron VI 34tatgtcaact agtttttttg taattgttgt cattaatttc ttttcttaaa ttatttcaga 60tgttgctttc taattagttt acattatgta tcttcattct tccagt 1063582DNAGlycine maxIntron(1)..(82)FATB-1 intron VII 35gtatttttct gttcttgtat tctaatccac tgcagtcctt gttttgttgt taaccaaagg 60actgtccttt gattgtttgc ag 8236208DNAGlycine max3'UTR(1)..(208)FATB-1 3' UTR 36gatttgaaat ggttaacgat tggagttgca tcagtctcct tgctatgttt agacttattc 60tggttccctg gggagagttt tgcttgtgtc tatccaatca atctacatgt ctttaaatat 120atacaccttc taatttgtga tactttggtg ggtaaggggg aaaagcagca gtaaatctca 180ttctcattgt aattaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 20837229DNAGlycine max5'UTR(1)..(229)FATB-1 5' UTR 37acaattacac tgtctctctc ttttccaaaa ttagggaaac aacaaggacg caaaatgaca 60caatagccct tcttccctgt ttccagcttt tctccttctc tctctctcca tcttcttctt 120cttcttcact cagtcagatc caactcctca gataacacaa gaccaaaccc gctttttctg 180catttctaga ctagacgttc taccggagaa gcgaccttag aaattcatt 229381398DNACuphea pulcherrimagene(1)..(1398)KAS I gene 38atgcattccc tccagtcacc ctcccttcgg gcctccccgc tcgacccctt ccgccccaaa 60tcatccaccg tccgccccct ccaccgagca tcaattccca acgtccgggc cgcttccccc 120accgtctccg ctcccaagcg cgagaccgac cccaagaagc gcgtcgtgat caccggaatg 180ggccttgtct ccgttttcgg ctccgacgtc gatgcgtact acgacaagct cctgtcaggc 240gagagcggga tcggcccaat cgaccgcttc gacgcctcca agttccccac caggttcggc 300ggccagattc gtggcttcaa ctccatggga tacattgacg gcaaaaacga caggcggctt 360gatgattgcc ttcgctactg cattgtcgcc gggaagaagt ctcttgagga cgccgatctc 420ggtgccgacc gcctctccaa gatcgacaag

gagagagccg gagtgctggt tgggacagga 480atgggtggtc tgactgtctt ctctgacggg gttcaatctc ttatcgagaa gggtcaccgg 540aaaatcaccc ctttcttcat cccctatgcc attacaaaca tggggtctgc cctgctcgct 600attgaactcg gtctgatggg cccaaactat tcaatttcca ctgcatgtgc cacttccaac 660tactgcttcc atgctgctgc taatcatatc cgccgtggtg aggctgatct tatgattgct 720ggaggcactg aggccgcaat cattccaatt gggttgggag gctttgtggc ttgcagggct 780ctgtctcaaa ggaacgatga ccctcagact gcctctaggc cctgggataa agaccgtgat 840ggttttgtga tgggtgaagg tgctggagtg ttggtgctgg agagcttgga acatgcaatg 900aaacgaggag cacctattat tgcagagtat ttgggaggtg caatcaactg tgatgcttat 960cacatgactg acccaagggc tgatggtctc ggtgtctcct cttgcattga gagtagcctt 1020gaagatgctg gcgtctcacc tgaagaggtc aattacataa atgctcatgc gacttctact 1080ctagctgggg atctcgccga gataaatgcc atcaagaagg ttttcaagaa cacaaaggat 1140atcaaaatta atgcaactaa gtcaatgatc ggacactgtc ttggagcctc tggaggtctt 1200gaagctatag cgactattaa gggaataaac accggctggc ttcatcccag cattaatcaa 1260ttcaatcctg agccatccgt ggagttcgac actgttgcca acaagaagca gcaacacgaa 1320gttaatgttg cgatctcgaa ttcatttgga ttcggaggcc acaactcagt cgtggctttc 1380tcggctttca agccatga 1398391218DNACuphea pulcherrima 39atgggtgtgg tgactcctct aggccatgac cctgatgttt tctacaataa tctgcttgat 60ggaacgagtg gcataagcga gatagagacc tttgattgtg ctcaatttcc tacgagaatt 120gctggagaga tcaagtcttt ctccacagat ggttgggtgg ccccgaagct ctctaagagg 180atggacaagt tcatgctata catgctgacc gctggcaaga aagcattaac agatggtgga 240atcaccgaag atgtgatgaa agagctagat aaaagaaaat gcggagttct cattggctca 300gcaatgggtg gaatgaaggt attcaatgat gccattgaag ccctaaggat ttcatataag 360aagatgaatc ccttttgtgt acctttcgct accacaaata tgggatcagc tatgcttgca 420atggacttgg gatggatggg gcccaactac tcgatatcta ctgcttgtgc aacgagtaac 480ttttgtataa tgaatgctgc gaaccatata atcagaggcg aagcagatgt gatgctttgc 540gggggctcag atgcggtaat catacctatt ggtatgggag gttttgttgc atgccgagct 600ttgtcccaga gaaattccga ccctactaaa gcttcaagac catgggacag taatcgtgat 660ggatttgtta tgggggaagg agctggagtg ctactactag aggagttgga gcatgcaaag 720aaaagaggtg cgactattta cgcagaattt ctaggtggga gtttcacttg cgatgcctac 780cacatgaccg agcctcaccc tgatggagct ggagtgattc tctgcataga gaaggctttg 840gctcagtcag gagtctctag ggaagacgta aattacataa atgcccatgc cacatccact 900ccggctggag atatcaaaga gtaccaagct cttatccact gtttcggcca aaacagagag 960ttaaaagtta attcaaccaa atcaatgatt ggtcaccttc tcggagcagc cggtggtgtg 1020gaagcagttt cagtagttca ggcaataagg actgggtgga tccatccgaa tattaatttg 1080gaaaacccag atgaaggcgt ggatacaaaa ttgctcgtgg gtcctaagaa ggagagactg 1140aacgttaagg tcggtttgtc taattcattt gggtttggtg ggcacaactc gtccatactc 1200ttcgcccctt acatctag 1218401191DNARicinus communisgene(1)..(1191)delta-9 desaturase 40atggctctca agctcaatcc tttcctttct caaacccaaa agttaccttc tttcgctctt 60ccaccaatgg ccagtaccag atctcctaag ttctacatgg cctctaccct caagtctggt 120tctaaggaag ttgagaatct caagaagcct ttcatgcctc ctcgggaggt acatgttcag 180gttacccatt ctatgccacc ccaaaagatt gagatcttta aatccctaga caattgggct 240gaggagaaca ttctggttca tctgaagcca gttgagaaat gttggcaacc gcaggatttt 300ttgccagatc ccgcctctga tggatttgat gagcaagtca gggaactcag ggagagagca 360aaggagattc ctgatgatta ttttgttgtt ttggttggag acatgataac ggaagaagcc 420cttcccactt atcaaacaat gctgaatacc ttggatggag ttcgggatga aacaggtgca 480agtcctactt cttgggcaat ttggacaagg gcatggactg cggaagagaa tagacatggt 540gacctcctca ataagtatct ctacctatct ggacgagtgg acatgaggca aattgagaag 600acaattcaat atttgattgg ttcaggaatg gatccacgga cagaaaacag tccatacctt 660gggttcatct atacatcatt ccaggaaagg gcaaccttca tttctcatgg gaacactgcc 720cgacaagcca aagagcatgg agacataaag ttggctcaaa tatgtggtac aattgctgca 780gatgagaagc gccatgagac agcctacaca aagatagtgg aaaaactctt tgagattgat 840cctgatggaa ctgttttggc ttttgctgat atgatgagaa agaaaatttc tatgcctgca 900cacttgatgt atgatggccg agatgataat ctttttgacc acttttcagc tgttgcgcag 960cgtcttggag tctacacagc aaaggattat gcagatatat tggagttctt ggtgggcaga 1020tggaaggtgg ataaactaac gggcctttca gctgagggac aaaaggctca ggactatgtt 1080tgtcggttac ctccaagaat tagaaggctg gaagagagag ctcaaggaag ggcaaaggaa 1140gcacccacca tgcctttcag ctggattttc gataggcaag tgaagctgta g 1191411194DNASimmondsia chinensisgene(1)..(1194)delta-9 desaturase 41atggcgttga agcttcacca cacggccttc aatccttcca tggcggttac ctcttcggga 60cttcctcgat cgtatcacct cagatctcac cgcgttttca tggcttcttc tacaattgga 120attacttcta aggagatacc caatgccaaa aagcctcaca tgcctcctag agaagctcat 180gtgcaaaaga cccattcaat gccgcctcaa aagattgaga ttttcaaatc cttggagggt 240tgggctgagg agaatgtctt ggtgcatctt aaacctgtgg agaagtgttg gcaaccacaa 300gattttctac ccgacccggc ctccgaggga tttatggatc aagtcaagga gttgagggaa 360agaaccaaag aaatcccgga tgagtacctt gtggtgttgg ttggcgatat gatcactgaa 420gaagctcttc cgacctacca gacgatgcta aacacgctcg atggagtacg tgatgagacg 480ggtgccagcc ttacttcttg ggctatctgg acccgggcat ggaccgctga agagaatagg 540cacggtgatc ttttgaacaa gtatctttac cttactggtc gagttgacat gaagcagata 600gagaagacaa tccagtatct aatcggatct ggaatggacc ctcgaagtga aaacaacccc 660tatctaggct tcatctacac ttccttccaa gagagagcaa ccttcatctc ccatggaaac 720accgctaggc tcgccaaaga ccacggcgac tttcaactag cacaagtatg tggcatcatc 780gctgcagatg agaagcgcca cgaaactgcc tacacaaaaa ttgtcgaaaa gctctttgaa 840atcgacccag acggcgctgt tctagcacta gctgacatga tgagaaagaa ggtttccatg 900ccagcccact taatgtatga tggcaaagat gacaatctct ttgagaacta ctcagccgtc 960gctcaacaaa ttggagttta caccgcgaag gactacgctg acatcctcga acacctcgtt 1020aatcgctgga aagtcgagaa tttaatgggt ctgtctggcg agggacataa ggctcaagat 1080ttcgtatgtg ggttggcccc gaggatcagg aaactcgggg agagagctca gtcgctaagc 1140aaaccggtat ctcttgtccc cttcagctgg attttcaaca aggaattgaa ggtt 1194422077DNAArtificialFATB-2 cDNA Contig 42gagggaaaca aggaagcgaa atgacacaat agtccttctt ccctgtttcc actttccagg 60ttttctcctt ctcgtttgtt gagcgctttt ctctccctct ccctcttctt cactcagtca 120gctgccgtag aaattcatta tggtggcaac agctgcaact tcatcatttt tccctgttac 180ttcaccctcg ccggactctg gtggacatgc aaagttactc aaaataatcg ctggccctat 240cacattattg ttaatattct tcccttcttt accttctact ttccgaatcc agaaaacacc 300acaacaccac ccagaattgt tgggttccat tctcaaaaca gagaacaaga agaagaagaa 360agagagagag tgaaaacggg aaaagcaaaa agttgtttct gtgattgatt ctctgcaacc 420gaatcatcat cagccacttc ttcccgtttc atctctccca tttcttcttt tcttccgctc 480tggttcagta aggcgaagag ggttaacgtt attcataatg gttgcaacag ccgctacggc 540gtcgtttctt cccgtgcctt tgccagacgc tggaaaaggg aaacccaaga aactgggtgg 600tggtggcggt ggcggtggcg gttctgtgaa cctcggagga ctcaaacaga aacaaggttt 660gtgcggtggc ttgcaggtca aggcaaacgc acaagcccct ccgaagaccg tggagaaggt 720tgagaatgat ttgtcgtcgt cgtcctcgtc gatttcgcac gccccgagga ctttcatcaa 780ccagttacct gactggagca tgcttctggc cgccatcacc accgtgttcc tggcggcgga 840gaagcagtgg atgatgctgg attggaagcc gcggcgcccc gacatgctca ttgacccctt 900tgggattggg aagatcgtgc aggatgggct tgtgttcagg cagaacttcc ccattaggtc 960ctatgagatt ggcgccgata aaaccgcgtc tatcgagact ttaatgaatc atttgcagga 1020gactgcactt aatcatgtta agactgctgg gcttcttggt gatggatttg gttccacgcc 1080tgaaatgtgc aaaaagaacc tgatatgggt ggtgactaag atgcaggttg tggttgataa 1140atatcccaca tggggtgatg ttgttcaagt agacacttgg gtatctgcat cagggaagaa 1200tggtatgtgt cgtgattggc ttgtgcgtga cgcgaaatct ggtgaaatct tgacaagagc 1260ctccagtgtt tgggtcatga tgaataaagt gacaagaaga ctgtctaaaa ttcccgaaga 1320agtcagggca gagataagct cttattttgt ggactctgct ccagttgtgc cagaggataa 1380cagaaaacta accaaacttg atgaatccgc taatttcatt cgcactggtt taagtcccag 1440atggaatgat ctagatgtga atcagcatgt taacaatgtg aagtatgttg ggtggattct 1500ggagagtgct ccacagccac ttttggagag ccatgagctg tgtgccatga cattggagta 1560caggagggag tgtggcagga acagtgtgct ggattccctc tctgatctct ctggtgctga 1620tgtaggaaac ttggcagatg gtggattttt tgagtgcaag cacttgcttc gacttgatga 1680tggtgctgag attgtgaggg gtaggactca atggaggccc aaacctttaa gcagcaactt 1740tggtcatgtt ttgagtcagg ttccagttcc agcagaaagc acctgaatct tatcttattg 1800attggcatca ctggaggagg agtggcataa attcatagag agctttgctt gtttttatca 1860aatctacgta tcttaaaata tatataaaag aaagtgtgtt actttggcta aaaaagggga 1920ggggaagtag aaagtaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aatctcgctc tcatgatttt gtaattaaaa 1980aatagctcct agcactactt tctcctacct gctccatttt ctgtttcact tatggttatg 2040ctgctgcttg gtgtcatcaa tatttaattg tttcatc 2077434634DNAGlycine max 43ggaaacaagg aagcgaaatg acacaatagt ccttcttccc tgtttccact ttccaggttt 60tctccttctc gtttgttgag cgcttttctc tccctctccc tcttcttcac tcagtcaggt 120acgctaacaa atctgctatt caatcaattc ctctttctct ctgatctacg tacgtgtccg 180caaactgcac ctccactctc cactcattcc atctaatctt cccttttcgc ttcagagatc 240caactcctca tataattcaa gacaaaatcc cgcgttttct gcatttctag acgttctacc 300ctacaaggtt ctcgattctt cttttttctt tttttttaga ctattattat tttaaaaaaa 360taaaaataat aatgagagct ggatgcgtct gttcgttgtg aatttcgagg caatggggtt 420ctgattttcg ttacagattg cattgtttgc tttcctcctc tccgtttttt ctttgccttg 480tttttatttt taattttggg gatgttttcg gtcttgcctt tgtttctgca tttttttttc 540ggtttgcgat gttttcagat ctgcgctggc ttatacgacg aatttgttct tattcgtgac 600tttccgcttg attgacctgt tttacctctg gaatctcaca cgtgatcaaa taaggctgct 660attttagttg aagtagaatc tatacacact ttgtagcatt ctttttacga tcacttacac 720gggtggtttt taatcaggct ttttttgtgg gggtataaac atcttcctcc tcgattcttt 780ccgataaaag cttaattgga ttataggaag tgggaaacaa tgcgtgggag ctctttggtt 840tgtttttcgt aggttaaact tgcaggttta agttctgaat caggagttcc aaatatagag 900gctgggggca taaaaaaaga gaattctatg gatctgttct gaaattggag ccactgtttc 960gagttgctat ttttttacta gtattaataa gaacaagttt gctttttatt ttacattttt 1020tcccgtttct tttgccaaaa gtatttatga tcactctctt ctgtttgtga tattacttat 1080aagtgctgtg ctgtaattat ttgttatttg gggtgaagta taatttttgg gtgaacttgg 1140agcgttttta gttagattga tttctcgata tcatttaagg tttaggttga ccccttccac 1200tcgtttgtgg ttgattgttt tttttttttt atctcttatc atttacagtg cttctttgcc 1260tatttttttc attatcccct ttcgtgaaag gtaggagaag aaaaacaatg acttgcgtaa 1320attttgcatg cagctgccgt agaaattcat tatggtggca acagctgcaa cttcatcatt 1380tttccctgtt acttcaccct cgccggactc tggtggacat gcaaagttac tcaaaataat 1440cgctggccct atcacattat tgttaatatt cttcccttct ttaccttcta ctttccgaat 1500ccagaaaaca ccacaacacc acccagaatt gttgggttcc attctcaaaa cagagaacaa 1560gaagaagaag aaagagagag agtgaaaacg ggaaaagcaa aaagttgttt ctgtgattga 1620ttctctgcaa ccgaatcatc atcagccact tcttcccgtt tcatctctcc catttcttct 1680tttcttccgc tctggttcag taaggcgaag agggttaacg ttattcataa tggttgcaac 1740agccgctacg gcgtcgtttc ttcccgtgcc tttgccagac gctggaaaag ggaaacccaa 1800gaaactgggt ggtggtggcg gtggcggtgg cggttctgtg aacctcggag gactcaaaca 1860gaaacaaggt ttgtgcggtg gcttgcaggt caaggcaaac gcacaagccc ctccgaagac 1920cgtggagaag gttgagaatg atttgtcgtc gtcgtcctcg tcgatttcgc acgccccgag 1980gactttcatc aaccagttac ctgactggag catgcttctg gccgccatca ccaccgtgtt 2040cctggcggcg gagaagcagt ggatgatgct ggattggaag ccgcggcgcc ccgacatgct 2100cattgacccc tttgggattg ggaagatcgt gcaggatggg cttgtgttca ggcagaactt 2160ccccattagg tcctatgaga ttggcgccga taaaaccgcg tctatcgaga ctttaatgaa 2220tcatttgcag gtcagctttt gcaaaaaatt gctgagaatt gcattcagca atcacgataa 2280atataacttt taataaatta ttatagaagt taagtaactt atcacgggtt gtcaacaaaa 2340atttagagaa taattgcata ggacaaaact tacctacagt tcgtttgaca ttttttgtgt 2400cgtttttaaa tcaaaattaa aattttatct tggtaatttg cagattatta gatacaactc 2460caatttcgat caaagaacaa tgccaaaaac acctatggaa tctaagtttt gtgcaattgc 2520ttattgatga ttttatttta ttgcctaaat tgtctgtttt ccaaacagga gactgcactt 2580aatcatgtta agactgctgg gcttcttagt gatggatttg gttccacgct gaaatgtgca 2640aaaagaacct gatatgggtg gtgactaaga tgcaggttgt ggttgataaa tatcccacat 2700ggtaagttgg tgtgactaag aagaaccttt ttgatgtgtg aagaattgca aaggcgtcca 2760tgctcagctg tgaaatcttc ttttgcctta ctcatcttta ctttgacttt atatagtatc 2820tggttgaatt attttgtact tctgcatttg tttctgtcac ttgtgctttt ttgtttcaca 2880aaattggtat gatagttagg aacttgggat taaaggcatg tttggaatat attgtgattg 2940tgaattattt ttaaaaatat tttcactttt caaaatctat ctcatgaatc tgtaaaaata 3000agaataaaaa ataaaactac tgtaatgtgt ataaaaaatt cttcttggat ggtaattgat 3060ctgataagca catgcttttt acataatgaa ttatatgaag tcctttgcct taagtctgtt 3120agactgggta tgagatatgg tagtaaattc tttttacatt ccgtacattt ttttgcatat 3180ttctgtctta ttattgtaaa atgttggatg catatacagg ttttcaaaag aagcaactta 3240taccatgtgc ccttttctgc attttggtct gttcgagaat aatctcttta gtaaattctg 3300aatctgttca tctgaagttg agtgaatcta tatttgcttc aggggtgatg ttgttcaagt 3360agacacttgg gtatctgcat cagggaagaa tggtatgtgt cgtgattggc ttgtgcgtga 3420cgccaaatct ggtgaaatct tgacaagagc ctccaggtag atatcagttt caggaatcct 3480ttttttctgt tgcctataga catgttttga agagtttttc tgaatctgaa tgtttctctc 3540tggtgatttg gcactgcttt taatctcacg aggctgtgtg aagttatcta ttatcatatt 3600tactttctct taatacacca ctattgaaag gcaattcatt acagatttaa gcatacaaaa 3660ttttgttgat gataattttt taatctacca acagtatcta atatcttctt aatttgttat 3720taagtaccag ccttcaactt gtgtacatgt tgcaccttgg tgctacgaac ttataagcat 3780tttctgattg gttgagtttg attttgattt tgatgttatg cagtgtttgg gtcatgatga 3840ataaagtgac aagaagactg tctaaaattc ccgaagaagt cagggcagag ataagctctt 3900attttgtgga ttctgctcca gttgtgccag aggataacag aaaactaacc aaacttgatg 3960attcagctaa tttcattcgc actggtttaa gtcccagatg gaatgatcta gatgtgaatc 4020agcatgttaa caatgtgaag tatgttgggt ggattctgga gagtgctcca cagccacttt 4080tggagagcca tgagctgtgt gccatgacat tggagtacag gagggagtgt ggcaggaaca 4140gtgtgctgga ttccctctct gatctctctg gtgctgatgt aggaaacttg gcagatggtg 4200gattttttga gtgcaagcac ttgcttcgac ttgatgatgg tgctgagatt gtgaggggta 4260ggactcaatg gaggcccaaa cctttaagca gcaactttgg tcatgttttg agtcaggttc 4320cagttccagc agaaagcacc tgaatcttat cttattgatt ggcatcactg gaggaggagt 4380ggcataaatt catagagagc tttgcttgtt tttatcaaat ctacgtatct taaaatatat 4440ataaaagaaa gtgtgttact ttggctaaaa aaggggaggg gaagtagaaa gtaaaaaaaa 4500aaaaaaaaat ctcgctctca tgattttgta attaaaaaat agctcctagc actactttct 4560cctacctgct ccattttctg tttcacttat ggttatgctg ctgcttggtg tcatcaatat 4620ttaattgttt catc 4634441215DNAGlycine max 44gtacgctaac aaatctgcta ttcaatcaat tcctctttct ctctgatcta cgtacgtgtc 60cgcaaactgc acctccactc tccactcatt ccatctaatc ttcccttttc gcttcagaga 120tccaactcct catataattc aagacaaaat cccgcgtttt ctgcatttct agacgttcta 180ccctacaagg ttctcgattc ttcttttttc ttttttttta gactattatt attttaaaaa 240aataaaaata ataatgagag ctggatgcgt ctgttcgttg tgaatttcga ggcaatgggg 300ttctgatttt cgttacagat tgcattgttt gctttcctcc tctccgtttt ttctttgcct 360tgtttttatt tttaattttg gggatgtttt cggtcttgcc tttgtttctg catttttttt 420tcggtttgcg atgttttcag atctgcgctg gcttatacga cgaatttgtt cttattcgtg 480actttccgct tgattgacct gttttacctc tggaatctca cacgtgatca aataaggctg 540ctattttagt tgaagtagaa tctatacaca ctttgtagca ttctttttac gatcacttac 600acgggtggtt tttaatcagg ctttttttgt gggggtataa acatcttcct cctcgattct 660ttccgataaa agcttaattg gattatagga agtgggaaac aatgcgtggg agctctttgg 720tttgtttttc gtaggttaaa cttgcaggtt taagttctga atcaggagtt ccaaatatag 780aggctggggg cataaaaaaa gagaattcta tggatctgtt ctgaaattgg agccactgtt 840tcgagttgct atttttttac tagtattaat aagaacaagt ttgcttttta ttttacattt 900tttcccgttt cttttgccaa aagtatttat gatcactctc ttctgtttgt gatattactt 960ataagtgctg tgctgtaatt atttgttatt tggggtgaag tataattttt gggtgaactt 1020ggagcgtttt tagttagatt gatttctcga tatcatttaa ggtttaggtt gaccccttcc 1080actcgtttgt ggttgattgt tttttttttt ttatctctta tcatttacag tgcttctttg 1140cctatttttt tcattatccc ctttcgtgaa aggtaggaga agaaaaacaa tgacttgcgt 1200aaattttgca tgcag 121545338DNAGlycine max 45gtcagctttt gcaaaaaatt gctgagaatt gcattcagca atcacgataa atataacttt 60taataaatta ttatagaagt taagtaactt atcacgggtt gtcaacaaaa atttagagaa 120taattgcata ggacaaaact tacctacagt tcgtttgaca ttttttgtgt cgtttttaaa 180tcaaaattaa aattttatct tggtaatttg cagattatta gatacaactc caatttcgat 240caaagaacaa tgccaaaaac acctatggaa tctaagtttt gtgcaattgc ttattgatga 300ttttatttta ttgcctaaat tgtctgtttt ccaaacag 33846641DNAGlycine max 46gtaagttggt gtgactaaga agaacctttt tgatgtgtga agaattgcaa aggcgtccat 60gctcagctgt gaaatcttct tttgccttac tcatctttac tttgacttta tatagtatct 120ggttgaatta ttttgtactt ctgcatttgt ttctgtcact tgtgcttttt tgtttcacaa 180aattggtatg atagttagga acttgggatt aaaggcatgt ttggaatata ttgtgattgt 240gaattatttt taaaaatatt ttcacttttc aaaatctatc tcatgaatct gtaaaaataa 300gaataaaaaa taaaactact gtaatgtgta taaaaaattc ttcttggatg gtaattgatc 360tgataagcac atgcttttta cataatgaat tatatgaagt cctttgcctt aagtctgtta 420gactgggtat gagatatggt agtaaattct ttttacattc cgtacatttt tttgcatatt 480tctgtcttat tattgtaaaa tgttggatgc atatacaggt tttcaaaaga agcaacttat 540accatgtgcc cttttctgca ttttggtctg ttcgagaata atctctttag taaattctga 600atctgttcat ctgaagttga gtgaatctat atttgcttca g 64147367DNAGlycine max 47gtagatatca gtttcaggaa tccttttttt ctgttgccta tagacatgtt ttgaagagtt 60tttctgaatc tgaatgtttc tctctggtga tttggcactg cttttaatct cacgaggctg 120tgtgaagtta tctattatca tatttacttt ctcttaatac accactattg aaaggcaatt 180cattacagat ttaagcatac aaaattttgt tgatgataat tttttaatct accaacagta 240tctaatatct tcttaatttg ttattaagta ccagccttca acttgtgtac atgttgcacc 300ttggtgctac gaacttataa gcattttctg attggttgag tttgattttg attttgatgt 360tatgcag 3674818DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 48ctgtttccac tttccagg 184917DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 49cttctcgttt gttgagc 175016DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 50cagctgcaac ttcatc 165116DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 51cttccccatt aggtcc 165218DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 52cacttaatca tgttaaga 185317DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 53gtcgtgattg gcttgtg 175417DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 54ctctgctcca gttgtgc

175518DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 55gcgagggtga agtaacag 185618DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 56gcacaaacct tgtttctg 185717DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 57caagaagccc agcagtc 175817DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 58gatttcacca gatttcg 175917DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 59gtgcgaatga aattagc 176017DNAArtificial sequencePCR primer 60ctttctgctg gaactgg 17612683DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(2683)FAD3-1B gene 61gttcaagcac agcctctaca acatgttggt aatggtgcag ggaaagaaga tcaagcttat 60tttgatccaa gtgctccacc acccttcaag attgcaaata tcagagcagc aattccaaaa 120cattgctggg agaagaacac attgagatct ctgagttatg ttctgaggga tgtgttggta 180gtgactgcat yggtagctgc agcaatcggc ttcaatagct ggttcttctg gccactctat 240yggcctgcac aaggcacaat gttttgggca ctttttgttc ttggacatga ttggtaacta 300attattatta caaattgtta tgttatgtta tgttatgttg ttgtgccttt ttctcagtga 360tgctttagtc atttcatttc acttggttat gcatgattgt tcgttcatat gttctgtcat 420ggtgagttct aatttgattg atgcatggaa cagtggtcat ggaagttttt caaacagtcc 480tttgttgaac agcattgtgg gccacatctt gcactcttca attcttgtac cataccatgg 540atggtcggtt ccttttagca acttttcatg ttcactttgt ccttaaattt ttttttatgt 600ttgttaaaaa atctttggtc tgatttaaca acctaaccat ttttacaacw catggatttw 660ttgcaggaga attagccaca ggactcacca tcagaaccat ggccatgttg agaaggatga 720atcatgggtt ccggtattac tatgagtttg cttgattaat ttccacattt tttctttctt 780cttaatttta atcagtggtt agatttggtt gtgttccaat agaagaaaag ggggtatcta 840gagagatgtg aatttcatga agtggttcat gattatgtgt ctttatgcct ttatgtcagc 900ttacagagaa agtttacaag aatctagaca acatgacaag aatgatgaga ttcactcttc 960ctttccccat ctttgcatac cccttttatt tggtgagacc ctctttttcc agaatgacag 1020cattatttta ctatatagta cctcaatttt tatatttcta aaattttgaa ttcttgaaat 1080tgaaaggaaa ggactttatt gggtctagca tctcactctc tctttgtgat atgaaccata 1140tatttcagtg gagcagaagc cctggaaaag aaggctctca tttcaaccct tacagcaact 1200tgttctctcc tggtgagaga agagatgtgc taacttcaac tctgtgttgg ggcatcatgc 1260tttctgtgct tctctatctt tccctcacaa tgggtccact ttttatgctc aagctctatg 1320gggttcccta tttggtaatc tcactctcac actttcttta tacatcgcac accagtgtgg 1380gttatttgca acctacaccg aagtaatgcc ctataattaa tgaggttaac acatgtccaa 1440gtccaatatt ttgttcactt atttgaactt gaacatgtgt agatcttcgt catgtggctg 1500gatttcgtca cgtacttgca tcatcatggt tacaagcaga aactgccttg gtaccgtggc 1560caggtatccc atttaacaca atttgtttca ttaacatttt aagagaattt ttttttcaaa 1620atagttttcg aaattaagca aataccaagc aaattgttag atctacgctt gtacttgttt 1680taaagtcaaa ttcatgacca aattgtcctc acaagtccaa accgtccact attttatttt 1740cacctacttt atagcccaat ttgtcatttg gttacttcag aaaagagaac cccatttgta 1800gtaaatatat tatttatgaa ttatggtagt ttcaacataa aacatattta tgtgcagttt 1860tgccatcctt caaaagaaga tagaaactta ctccatgtta ctctgtctat atgtaatttc 1920acaggaatgg agttatctaa ggggtggtct tacaacagta gatcgcgact atggttggat 1980caacaacatt caccatgaca ttggcaccca tgttatccat caccttttcc ctcaaattcc 2040acattatcat ttaatcgaag cggtattaat tctctatttc acaagaaatt attgtatgtc 2100tgcctatgtg atctaagtca attttcacat aacacatgat caaactttct taattctttc 2160ttctaaattg aaaaagtgga ttatatgtca attgaaaatt ggtcaagacc acaaacatgt 2220gatgatctcc caccttacat ataataattt ctcctattct acaatcaata atccttctat 2280ggtcctgaat tgttcctttc ttttttcatt ttcttattct ttttgttgtc ccacaataga 2340ctaaagcagc aaaggcagtg ctaggaaagt attatcgtga gcctcagaaa tctgggccat 2400tgccacttca tctaataaag tacttgctcc acagcataag tcaggatcac ttcgttagcg 2460actctggcga cattgtgtac taccagactg attcccagct ccacaaagat tcttggaccc 2520agtccaacta aagtttttga tgctacattt acctatttca ctcttaaata ctatttccta 2580tgtaatatgt aatttagaat atgttaccta ctcaaatcaa ttaggtgaca tgtataagct 2640ttcataaatt atgctagaaa tgcacttact ttacaaagca tgc 2683624160DNAGlycine maxgene(1)..(4160)FAD3-1C gene 62aaagatttca ttcttcctct tctaggttat tacgcaccac ccaccacgta tccctgaaag 60agagaaaaac acactaagcc aaagccaaag cagcaatggt taaagacaca aagcctttag 120cctatgctgc taataatgga taccaaaagg aagcttttga tcccagtgct cctccaccgt 180ttaagattgc agaaatcaga gttgcaatac caaaacattg ctgggtcaag aatccatgga 240gatccctcag ttatgttctc agggatgtgc ttgtaattgc tgcattgatg gctgctgcaa 300gtcacttcaa caactggctt ctctggctaa tctattggcc cattcaagga acaatgttct 360gggctctgtt tgttcttgga catgattggt aattaattat ttgttgttac ttttttgtta 420taatatgaat ctcacacact gctttgttat gcctacctca tttcatttgg ctttagacaa 480cttaaatttg agatctttat tatgtttttt gcttatatgg taaagtgatt cattcttcac 540attgaattga acagtggcca tggaagcttt tcagacagcc cttttctaaa tagcctggtg 600ggacacatct tgcattcctc aattcttgtg ccataccatg gatggttagt tcatcccggc 660ttttttgttt gtcattggaa gttcttttat tgattcaatt tttatagcgt gttcggaaac 720gcgtttcaga aaataatgaa atacatcttg aatctgaaag ttataacttt tagcttcatt 780gtcattgaaa gttcttttat taattatatt tttattgcgt gtttggaatc ccatttgaga 840aataagaaat cacgtttaaa atgtgaaagt tataactatt aacttttgac taaacttgaa 900aaaatcacat ttttgatgtg gaaccaaatc tgatttgaga accaagttga ttttgatgga 960ttttgcagga gaattagcca cagaactcac catcaaaatc atggacacat tgagaaggat 1020gaatcctggg ttccagtatg tgattaacta cttcctctat agttattttt gattcaatta 1080aatttattta tttaataagt tcaagaaaaa aggaatcttt atacttcatg ataaagctgt 1140tcttgaacat ttttttttgt cattatctta gttaaccgag aagatttaca agaatctaga 1200caacatgaca agacttgtta gattcactgt gccatttcca ttgtttgtgt atccaattta 1260tttggkgagk gctttttttt ttttacttgg aagactacaa cacattatta ttattataat 1320atggttcaaa tcaatgactt ttaatttctt tgtgatgtgc actccatttt cagttctcaa 1380gaagccccgg aaaggaaggt tctcacttca atccctacag caatctgttc ccacccagtg 1440agagaaaggg aatagcaata tcaacactgt gttgggttac catgttttct atgcttatct 1500atctctcctt cataactagt ccagttctat tgctcaagct ctatggaatt ccatattggg 1560taattaaatt actcttacat tactttttcc tctttttttt tatgggtctt aactagtatc 1620acaaaaatat tggttaaaaa attttaaaaa aatatttatt atgtaaatca taaaagaaca 1680taaaaaaaat gatgaataac ataattttcg tctcttatta aaaatatttt tattttaaat 1740ttcttaatca atatatttaa aatctggtta acattttttg aatatttcaa ttctccaatt 1800aaaaatttga aatagtcacc attaattatg taattgtttg aacacgtgca gatatttgtt 1860atgtggctgg actttgtcac atacttgcat caccatggtc atcatcagaa actgccttgg 1920tatcgcggca aggtaacaaa aataaataga aaatagtgag tgaacactta aatgttagat 1980actaccttct tcttcttctt tttttttttt ttgaggttaa tgctagataa tagctagaaa 2040gagaaagaaa gacaaatata ggtaaaaata aataatataa cctgggaaga agaaaacata 2100aaaaaagaaa taatagagtc tacgtaatgt ttggattttt gagtgaaatg gtgttcacct 2160accattactc aaagattctg ttgtctacgt agtgtttgga ctttggagtg aaatggtgtt 2220cacctaccat tactcagatt ctgttgtgtc ccttagttac tgtcttatat tcttagggta 2280tattctttat tttacatcct tttcacatct tacttkaaaa gatttttaat tattcattga 2340aatattaacg tgacagttaa attaaaataa taaaaaattc gttaaaactt caaataaata 2400agagtgaaag gatcatcatt tttcttcttt cttttattgc gttattaatc atgcttctct 2460tctttttttt cttcgctttc cacccatatc aaattcatgt gaagtatgag aaaatcacga 2520ttcaatggaa agctacagga actttttttg ttttgttttt ataatcggaa ttaatttata 2580ctccattttt tcacaataaa tgttacttag tgccttaaag ataatatttg aaaaattaaa 2640aaaattatta atacactgta ctactatata atatttgaca tatatttaac atgattttct 2700attgaaaatt tgtatttatt attttttaat caaaacccat aaggcattaa tttacaagac 2760ccatttttca tttatagctt tacctgtgat catttatagc tttaagggac ttagatgtta 2820caatcttaat tacaagtaaa tatttatgaa aaacatgtgt cttacccctt aaccttacct 2880caacaaagaa agtgtgataa gtggcaacac acgtgttgct tttttggccc agcaataaca 2940cgtgtttttg tggtgtacaa aaatggacag gaatggagtt atttaagagg tggtctcaca 3000actgtggatc gtgactatgg ttggatcaat aacattcacc atgacattgg cacccatgtt 3060attcaccatc ttttccctca aattcctcat tatcacctcg ttgaagcggt atattttact 3120attattactc acctaaaaag aatgcaatta gtacatttgt tttatctctt ggaagttagt 3180cattttcagt tgcatgattg taatgttctc tctattttta aaccatgttt tcacacctac 3240ttcgtttaaa ataagaatgt ggatactatt ctaatttcta ttaacttctt ttaaaaaata 3300atgtaaaact agtattaaaa aagaggaaat agattacact ctactaatac taatagtata 3360aaaaaaatta cattgttatt ttatcacaaa taattatata taattaattt ttacaatcat 3420tatcttaaaa gtcatgtatg atatacagtt tttacatgct ttggtactta ttgtaaagtt 3480agtgatttat tcattattta tgttatataa ttggcataaa tatcatgtaa ccagctcact 3540atactataat gggaacttgg tggtgaaagg ggtttacaac cctcttttct aggtgtaggt 3600gctttgatac ttctggtccc tttttatatc aatataaatt atattttgct gataaaaaaa 3660acattattaa tatataatca ttaacttctt taaaaaccgt acctaaaact ttatattatt 3720aaaaagaaga ttgagatcag caaaagaaaa aaaaattaac agtcatttga attcactgca 3780gacacaagca gcaaaatcag ttcttggaga gtattaccgt gagccagaaa gatctgcaca 3840ttaccatttc atctaataaa gtatttaatt cagagtatga gacaagacca cttcgtaagt 3900gacactggag atgtggttta ttatcagact gattctctgc accttcactc gcaccgagac 3960tgagtttcaa tttttgggtt atttattgga ttctagctac tcaaattact ttttttttaa 4020tgttacgttt ttggagtttt aacgttttct gaacaacttg caaattacat gcatagagag 4080acaggaattc atagtgggcc tcaatggaat atttatttga aattagtaag gtggtaatta 4140ataaatattg aattgtcagt 416063994DNAGlycine maxpromoter(1)..(994)FAD3-1C promoter 63tgctacgaag caatttgcat gctaggaagc aaagtaaaat tctcaaactg tataacttat 60tttctcttgt tgtatataaa actagtcatt tttcattaaa aagcattgta taatagttta 120atgggtcatt gaaattatta taattaatgt cattctattt ttaatactcc ttttgtttga 180taatgattat cgtttcatgt tattttctat acatatcaag acaaattaat aaatggataa 240aaaagtatca attttataaa attaatatta ttattattaa tttatttata attttttgtt 300atcatttata ttataagtaa tatattattg gcaaaaataa tttttgatca attatattta 360cctgtcggtc gaactctaga ttatgctggg tatcttctcc aaatgaatcc aaagattaaa 420ataaaataaa attataagta atataaataa aaaacaatta atactagatt aacaagacta 480aaataataat tattttataa tttattttct tcaataattg tagaatacaa ggagtaatat 540ttaatgttgt ttaattcttg tttcaataat tgagatgttt tgaacaaatt aaataattat 600tgtaaataga ataacattaa ttacaataat aaaatcattt taacgatcca ttaaacttaa 660atgataaaat tcaactaact aatttggagt aattaagaaa aatagttaat ttagacaaca 720atattaaatt tttgctaaat tatatgtttt tctcaaaatt acctataaca ttaataagac 780atacttttat ttttcaaaga tttctactta attaaccgcc acaaattcat cctcgctggt 840ttgtcctaca ccgtatgttt tttgacgtca gctaggcaaa ccaacataaa taggaagcag 900tagaagtaaa agtagaatgt ggtagtgtta ttattattta ctactgtttc accttggtgt 960tatataaatg cactacccca taattgaatt tttc 994645PRTGlycine max 64His Val Ile His His1 5655PRTGlycine max 65His Val Ile His Tyr1 5

Claims

1.-60. (canceled)

61. A method of producing soybean seed comprising a linolenic acid content of 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight, comprising the steps of: a) growing one or more soybean plants that comprise a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene, wherein said soybean plants yield seed having a seed fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight, and, b) harvesting seed from said plant.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said soybean plants of step (a) comprise at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said soybean plants yield seed comprising a linolenic acid content of 1 to 4% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations comprises a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations in said soybean FAD3-1B gene comprises a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61.

67. A soybean seed, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a transgene that decreases the expression of an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 gene, and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene.

68. The soybean seed of claim 67, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of 1% to 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

69. The soybean seed of claim 67, wherein said plant comprises at least two loss-of-function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes.

70. The soybean seed of claim 69, wherein said endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C.

71. The soybean seed of claim 67, wherein said loss-of-function mutation comprises a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62.

72. The soybean seed of claim 67, wherein said loss-of-function mutation in said soybean FAD3-1B gene comprises a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61.

73. A method of producing soybean seed comprising a linolenic acid content of about 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of about 2% to 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight, comprising the steps of: a) growing one or more soybean plants that comprise at least one transgene that decreases the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous FATB gene, and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene, wherein said soybean plants yield seed having a seed fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of about 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of about 2% to 8% by weight, and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight; and, b) harvesting seed from said plant.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said soybean plants comprise at least two loss of function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein said soybean plants yield seed comprising a linolenic acid content of about 1% to 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of about 2% to 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations comprises a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations in said soybean FAD3-1B gene comprises a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61.

79. A soybean seed, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of about 0.5% to 6% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of about 2% to 8% by weight and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight, at least one transgene that decreases the expression of both an endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and an endogenous FATB gene, and at least one loss-of-function mutation in an endogenous soybean FAD3 gene.

80. The seed of claim 79, said seed having a fatty acid composition comprising a linolenic acid content of about 1% to 3% of total seed fatty acids by weight, a saturated fatty acid content of about 2% to 8% by weight, and an oleic acid content of 55% to 80% of total seed fatty acids by weight.

81. The seed of claim 79, wherein said seed comprises at least two loss-of-function mutations in at least two endogenous soybean FAD3 genes.

82. The seed of claim 79, wherein said endogenous soybean FAD3 genes are FAD3-1B and FAD3-1C.

83. The seed of claim 79, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations comprises a deletion in the FAD3-1C gene of SEQ ID NO:62.

84. The seed of claim 79, wherein at least one of said loss-of-function mutations in said soybean FAD3-1B gene comprises a substitution of a thymine residue for a cytosine residue at a position in the FAD3-1B gene sequence corresponding to nucleotide 2021 of SEQ ID NO:61.