231 Characterisation and Evaluation of Species of the Boraginaceae Family as Source of Gamma-Linolenic Acid for Mediterranean Conditions A. De Haro, M. del Río, B. Alcaide, H. Rapoport A. Cabrera Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC) ETSIAM Alameda del Obispo. 14080 Córdoba, Spain Universidad de Córdoba, Spain Keywords: Fatty acids, Borago officinalis, germplasm evaluation, EMS mutants, Echium spp., Anchusa spp. Abstract Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid that is being used for the treatment of health problems related to deficiencies in essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. Borage plant is an important source of GLA, but the shattering habit of the genus limits large scale seed production. Looking for alternatives to the available borage material and for the possibilities of borage and other plant species belonging to the same botanical family as potential crops in Mediterranean conditions, this work describes: i) the evaluation of the seed quality of European borage population, and further selection of entries with high oil and GLA, and low erucic acid content, ii) the isolation of two borage mutants with improved seed production characteristics, iii) the first results of the anatomical and molecular studies in relation with the reproductive system and the cariotype of normal and mutants plants, and iv) the beginning and characterization of a germplasm collection of Boraginaceae plant species for its fatty acid composition and adaptability to semi arid environments: Anchusa azurea and Echium boissieri highlight as potential new crops for GLA production. INTRODUCTION Gamma linolenic (all-cis-6,9,12-octadecatrienoic) acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid in demand for clinical and pharmaceutical applications. This fatty acid is precursor of indispensable compounds in the body such as prostaglandins (PGE 1 ) and leucotrienes (LT). Many factors, such aging ageing, stress, diabetes, high alcohol intake and nutritional deficiencies, have been shown to interfere the biosynthesis of GLA from linoleic acid via ∆-6 desaturase. Health problems related to deficiencies in essential fatty acids and prostaglandins are being treated by supplementation of the diet with vegetable oils containing this fatty acid (Gunstone 1992; Horrobin, 1999). The most common commercial sources of GLA for pharmaceutical uses are evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) and borage seed oil. Borage seed appears to be the richest known plant source of GLA, with 16 to 28 percent of GLA from a total seed oil content of 27 to 37 percent. Additional advantages of borage in comparison with evening primrose is the annual life cycle and the larger seed of borage that make harvest and oil extraction easier (Muuse et al., 1988; Janick et al., 1989; Galwey and Shirlin, 1990). Large scale commercial production of borage is limited because of the non- uniform seed maturation and shattering habit of the plant, factors that cause a large amount of ripened seed fall to the soil before and during harvest. Janick and co-workers (1989) have attempted to find solutions to the seed-shattering challenge with the development of vacuum harvesters and in vitro production of GLA by zygotic and somatic embryos culture. Galwey and Shirlin (1990) initiated a program of selection in borage for GLA, oil content, and seed production, including mutagenesis with sodium azide and with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS), but no mutant phenotypes were produced in subsequent generations. In addition to borage, other members of the Boraginaceae family also contain GLA and represent potential sources of GLA (Janick et al., 1989). Among these, are a Proc. XXVI IHC – Future for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Eds. L.E. Craker et al. Acta Hort. 629, ISHS 2004 Publication supported by Can. Int. Dev. Agency (CIDA)