Identification of High Linoleic Acid Varieties in Tetraploid Perilla Through Gamma-ray Irradiation and CRISPR/Cas9

Abstract Perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) var frutescens) is a traditional oil crop in Asia, recognized for its seeds abundant in α-linolenic acid (18:3), a key omega-3 fatty acid known for its health benefits. Despite the known nutritional value, the reason behind the higher 18:3 content in tetraploid perilla seeds remained unexplored. Gamma irradiation yielded mutants with altered seed fatty acid composition. Among the mutants, DY-46-5 showed a 27% increase in 18:2 due to the 4 bp deletion of PfrFAD3b and NC-65-12 displayed a 16% increase in 18:2 due to the loss of function of PfrFAD3a through a large deletion. Simultaneous knockout of two copies of FATTY ACID DESATURASE 3 (PfrFAD3a and PfrFAD3b) using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in an increase in 18:2 by up to 75% and a decrease in 18:3 to as low as 0.3% in seeds, emphasizing the pivotal roles of both genes in 18:3 synthesis in tetraploid perilla. Furthermore, diploid Perilla citriodora, the progenitor of cultivated tetraploid perilla, harbors only PfrFAD3b, with fatty acid analysis revealing lower 18:3 levels than tetraploid perilla. In conclusion, the enhanced 18:3 content in cultivated tetraploid perilla seeds can be attributed to the acquisition of two FAD3 copies through hybridization with wild-type diploid perilla.