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Avocado is an economically important crop with ~ 60-70 % oil, by dry weight, in its fruit mesocarp tissue. The steady increase in global demand for avocado (9% per year) has driven interest to identify the biochemical and molecular factors that regulate its triacylglycerol (TAG, oil) biosynthesis. Using 454- and Illumina-based RNA-Seq approaches, we examined the transcriptional basis for TAG biosynthesis in developing mesocarp of avocado, in relation to other seed and non-seed tissues. Deep transcriptional profiling data allowed us to identify several transcripts that were differentially represented between the early and late developmental stages of mesocarp. Additionally, in all oil-rich tissues analyzed, irrespective of the species, an increased expression was noted for genes mostly associated with fatty acid biosynthesis in plastid, but much less increase in those for TAG assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum. Transcripts associated with hexose metabolism in plastid also showed higher expression, relative to cytosol; this is likely associated with the need for high pyruvate flux directed toward plastid fatty acid synthesis. Moreover, WRINKLED1 transcription factor, a regulatory element associated with oil biosynthesis in seed and non-seed tissues of monocot and dicot plants, was identified in avocado as well. Our studies point to distinctive modes of regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis and TAG assembly that are conserved in both seed and non-seed oil-rich plants. In addition to improving avocado oil production, our study will lead to understanding regulation of oil biosynthesis in coordination with fruit development and identification of ways to generate oil-rich bioenergy crops; a direct implication for the science & society. This study provides an evolutionary insight into conserved nature of oil biosynthesis in a basal angiosperm (avocado) in relation to a monocot (oil palm) and a dicot (brassica). This research will lead to publications for students, sustain existing collaborations (Israel, CA, FL avocado researchers) and generate external funds.

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Plants are being engineered for enhanced ethanol production; however, challenges remain in meeting the demand for bioenergy that is expected to double by 2030. Therefore, targeting carbon accumulation in the form of energy-dense oils in nonseed biomass is considered a superior alternative for bioenergy production. Although oils in the form of triacylglycerols (TAGs) are typically stored in seed tissues, various nonseed tissues such as mesocarp, tubers, stems and leaves also serve as storage tissues for TAG accumulation in plants. Moreover, the biomass of these tissues is generally far greater than seed biomass. In order to increase oil content in nonseed biomass for bioenergy and nutritional purposes, it is important to understand how such plants naturally accumulate TAG in nonseed tissues. Several molecular approaches, including transcriptomics, have been undertaken to elucidate the metabolic and regulatory mechanisms of carbon partitioning in oil-rich nonseed tissues. Such studies are expected to generate important transgenic tools that can be used to alter fatty acid metabolism and engineer plants to produce oil-rich biomass successfully. This review focuses on the potential of different oil-rich nonseed tissues and the strategies developed for enhancing oil biomass.

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Jatropha curcas L., também conhecida no Brasil como pinhão-manso, é uma oleaginosa que atraiu a atenção do mundo para bioenergia dado a qualidade e o alto conteúdo de óleo na semente. Contudo, a espécie necessita de programas de melhoramento genético para fixar características de interesse em bancos de germoplasma. Este trabalho objetivou identificar e analisar a diversidade alélica, metabólica e físico-química relacionada à síntese de óleo e ésteres de forbol em uma amostra de 22 genótipos do BAG do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas para seleção de genótipos elite. Os genes MFP2, KASIII e 3-N-D, envolvidos na biossíntese de óleo e de taxol, foram selecionados a partir de Gomes et al. (2010). Os resultados mostraram que há baixa diversidade alélica para os genes KAS III e MFP2, por outro lado, a expressão desses mesmos genes e a composição de ácidos graxos foi bastante variável entre os genótipos e ao longo do desenvolvimento da semente de J. curcas indicando uma provável regulação diferenciada da via de óleo. O estudo realizado permite combinar a diversidade alélica, expressão dos genes, conteúdo metabólico e poder calorífico para a seleção de genótipos e identificação de parentais direcionando cruzamentos no quadro do programa de melhoramento do IAC. / Jatropha curcas L., also know in Brazil as physic nut, is an oilseed that call world´s attention to bioenergy due to quality and high oilseed content. However, this species needs of breeding programs so that interest traits may to be fixed in germplasm banks. This study aimed to identify and analyze allelic, metabolic and physicochemical diversity related to oil and phorbol esters synthesis in a 22 genotypes sample from Instituto Agronômico de Campinas-BAG for elite genotypes selection. The MFP2, KASIII and 3-ND genes involved in oil and taxol biosynthesis were selected from Gomes et al. (2010). The results showed that there is low allelic diversity for KAS III and MFP2 genes, on the other hand, the expression of these same genes and fatty acid composition was quite variable between genotypes through J. curcas seed development indicating a putative differential regulation in oil pathway. This study allows combining allelic diversity, gene expression, metabolic content and calorific values for parental genotypes identification and selection driving crosses within IAC breeding program.

Jatropha curcas L., também conhecida no Brasil como pinhão-manso, é uma oleaginosa que atraiu a atenção do mundo para bioenergia dado a qualidade e o alto conteúdo de óleo na semente. Contudo, a espécie necessita de programas de melhoramento genético para fixar características de interesse em bancos de germoplasma. Este trabalho objetivou identificar e analisar a diversidade alélica, metabólica e físico-química relacionada à síntese de óleo e ésteres de forbol em uma amostra de 22 genótipos do BAG do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas para seleção de genótipos elite. Os genes MFP2, KASIII e 3-N-D, envolvidos na biossíntese de óleo e de taxol, foram selecionados a partir de Gomes et al. (2010). Os resultados mostraram que há baixa diversidade alélica para os genes KAS III e MFP2, por outro lado, a expressão desses mesmos genes e a composição de ácidos graxos foi bastante variável entre os genótipos e ao longo do desenvolvimento da semente de J. curcas indicando uma provável regulação diferenciada da via de óleo. O estudo realizado permite combinar a diversidade alélica, expressão dos genes, conteúdo metabólico e poder calorífico para a seleção de genótipos e identificação de parentais direcionando cruzamentos no quadro do programa de melhoramento do IAC. / Jatropha curcas L., also know in Brazil as physic nut, is an oilseed that call world´s attention to bioenergy due to quality and high oilseed content. However, this species needs of breeding programs so that interest traits may to be fixed in germplasm banks. This study aimed to identify and analyze allelic, metabolic and physicochemical diversity related to oil and phorbol esters synthesis in a 22 genotypes sample from Instituto Agronômico de Campinas-BAG for elite genotypes selection. The MFP2, KASIII and 3-ND genes involved in oil and taxol biosynthesis were selected from Gomes et al. (2010). The results showed that there is low allelic diversity for KAS III and MFP2 genes, on the other hand, the expression of these same genes and fatty acid composition was quite variable between genotypes through J. curcas seed development indicating a putative differential regulation in oil pathway. This study allows combining allelic diversity, gene expression, metabolic content and calorific values for parental genotypes identification and selection driving crosses within IAC breeding program.