Tung tree

There appear to be species-based differences in the relative contributions of type 1 versus type 2 DGAT to TAG accumulation during seed development. DGAT2 has been shown to play a major role in TAG accumulation in the seeds of the tung tree ( Vernicia fordii) and castor bean (Ricinus communis), in which the enzyme is involved in the incorporation of unusual fatty acyl moieties (Kroon et al. 2006, Shockey et al. 2006). The in vivo contribution of DGAT2 to oil biosynthesis in developing seeds of B. napus, however, remains to be elucidated (Gaboon et al. 2007). 

Shockey, J.M., S.K. Gidda, D.C. Chapital, et al. 2006. Tung tree DGATl and DGAT2 have nonredundant functions in triacylglycerol biosynthesis and are localized to different subdomains of the endoplasmic reticulum. Plant Cell 18 2294—2313. 

Tung nut, tung tree candle nut Aleurites spp 1,3 Euphorbiaceae... 

This is a small tropical shrub, the roots of which are eaten or used to make tapioca. Cassava belongs to the same family (Euphorbiaceae) as the tung tree (noted for its oil-bearing nuts), rubber tree, and castor bean. There are two main kinds of cassava—bitter cassava (Manihot esculenta) which is used to make tapioca, and sweet cassava (M. dulcis M. aipi, or M. utilissima) which is eaten like potatoes. Lig. C-30 shows a typical cassava plant. 

Cao, H., Shockey, J.M., Klasson, K.T., Chapital, D.C., Mason, C.B., Scheffler, B.E., 2013. Developmental regulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase family gene expression in tung tree tissues. PLoS One 8, e76946. 

Cao, H., Zhang, L., Tan, X., Long, H., Shockey, J.M., 2014. Identification, classification and differential expression of oleosin genes in tung tree (Vernicia fordii). PLoS One 9, e88409. 

Chen, Y., Zhou, G., Wang, Y, Xu, L., 2010a. F-BOX and oleosin additional target genes for future metabolic engineering in tung trees Ind. Crops. Prod. 32, 684-686. 

Pastor, S., Sethumadhavan, K., Ullah, A.H., Gidda, S., Cao, H., Mason, C., Chapital, D., Scheffler, B., Mullen, R., Dyer, J., Shockey, L, 2013. Molecular properties of the class III subfamily of acyl-coenyzme A binding proteins from tung tree Vemicia fordii). Plant Sci. 203-204,... 

Potter, G.F., 1959. The domestic tung industry. I. Production and improvement of the tung tree. Econ. Bot. 13, 328-342. 

Ren, J., Guo, R., Chen, L., Nevo, E., Zhang, Z., Sun, D., Peng, J., 2013. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of fad2 gene from tung tree, Vemicia fordii, a potential biodiesel plant. Euphytica 194, 93-107. 

Zhan, Z., Yangdong, W., Shockey, J., Chen, Y., Zhou, Z., Yao, X., Ren, H., 2012. Breeding status of tung tree (Vernicia sp.) in China, a multipurpose oilseed crop with industrial uses. Silvae Genet. 61, 265-271. 

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