Quality characteristics in rapeseed-mustard and role of some anti-nutritional factors in plant defense: future strategies

Abstract

Recommendations for use of rapeseed-mustard oil and seed meal for consumption purposes particularly
presence of low saturated fat, high oleic acid, balanced ratio of SFA/MUFA/PUFA and antioxidants, and
absence of trans-fat and minimum anti-nutritional factors, are generally different from those of industrial
requirements. Further, some anti-nutritional factors present in rapeseed-mustard crops are known to be
associated with some plant defense system and other important biological functions. These factors have
brought the crop quality research on top with the objective of producing designer crops specific for
consumption and industrial purposes. For producing such designer crops through conventional breeding,
screening of the available germplasm for specific traits and their further utilization in crop improvement
programme becomes necessary. An integrated approach including plant breeding, genetics, biochemistry and
biotechnology including bioinformatics is essential in identifying new related biomarkers, or elucidating the
chemistry of regulation of various biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present review, information regarding
rapeseed-mustard quality characteristics and on correlation of some anti-nutritional factors with some biotic
and abiotic stresses has been compiled.