Precision breeding release notice (reference: PBR/26/003)
Published 22 April 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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Information provided to the Secretary of State alongside a notice of intention to release a precision bred plant under schedule 1 of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.
1. Name and address of the person proposing to release the precision bred plant
Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ
2. Description of others assisting in the release of the precision bred plant
Research institutes, farmers, private/public partnerships.
3. General description of the precision bred plant
a) Genus and species
Brassica napus.
b) Intended alterations to characteristics of the plant
Enhanced erucic acid content in seed oil.
c) Types of genetic changes introduced to cause these alterations
Insertion of multiple copies of a native FATTY ACID ELONGASE1 (FAE1) gene (via cisgenesis). FAE1 encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids and erucic acid production is responsive to FAE1 gene dosage.
d) Techniques of modern biotechnology used to make these genetic changes
Plants were stably co-transformed with a mixture of two separate transfer-DNA (T-DNA) vectors using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The first vector carried four tandemly repeated copies of a region of Brassica napus genomic DNA sequence containing a FATTY ACID ELONGASE1 gene encoding the enzyme β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase. The second vector carried selectable marker cassettes with transgenes conferring antibiotic resistance and betalain production. Antibiotic resistant primary transformants were selected that harboured both T-DNAs and those insertions carrying the selectable marker cassettes were then removed by genetic segregation.
4. Confirmation: preventing marketing
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they will put in place any necessary appropriate measures to prevent material from the precision bred plant being marketed until such time as a precision bred confirmation is issued in respect of the plant.
Confirmed
5. Confirmation: meeting precision breeding criteria
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they have assessed that all plants covered by the release notice meet the criteria for a precision bred organism as set out in section 1 (2) of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
Confirmed