Using systems metabolic engineering strategies for high-oil maize breeding

Area of Science:

• Plant biotechnology
• Agricultural science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Maize oil, a triacylglycerol (TAG) ester blend, is vital for food, feed, and biofuel.
• Commercial high-oil maize has ~8% oil, significantly less than high-oil lines (~20%).
• Genomic and metabolic engineering offer new avenues for high-oil maize development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review strategies for enhancing oil production in maize.
• To explore using maize kernels and vegetative tissues for TAG and omega-3 fatty acid (EPA, DHA) production.
• To propose implementation strategies for high-oil maize breeding programs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on maize genetics and systems metabolic engineering.
• Analysis of metabolic engineering approaches in other species for potential maize application.
• Consideration of transgenic, gene-editing, and traditional breeding strategies.

Main Results:

• Maize tissues can potentially be engineered as factories for TAG and valuable fatty acids.
• Metabolic engineering and genetic advancements provide tools to increase maize oil content.
• Integration of diverse breeding strategies can accelerate high-oil maize development.

Conclusions:

• High-oil maize breeding holds significant potential through advanced biotechnologies.
• Targeting both kernels and vegetative tissues can optimize oil production.
• A combination of genetic, gene-editing, and traditional breeding is key for future success.