Biodegradable high oxidative stability oils

Abstract

A triacylglycerol containing oil having a 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol (EOE) content of at least about 50% is described. Plants for producing an oil having a high EOE content are also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A triacylglycerol containing oil having a 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol content of at least about 50% based on total triacylglycerol composition.  
     
     
         2 . The oil of    claim 1   , wherein said 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol content is from about 60% to about 90%.  
     
     
         3 . The oil of    claim 2   , wherein said 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol content is from about 75% to about 90%.  
     
     
         4 . The oil of    claim 1   , said oil having an oxidative stability of from about 80 AOM hours to about 300 AOM hours in the absence of added antioxidants.  
     
     
         5 . The oil of    claim 4   , said oil having an oxidative stability of about 84 AOM hours to about 120 AOM hours.  
     
     
         6 . The oil of    claim 1   , said oil having a viscosity index greater than about 195.  
     
     
         7 . A modified plant of a species that naturally produces erucic acid, said modified plant having a seed-specific reduction in delta-12 desaturase activity in comparison with a corresponding wild-type plant, wherein said plant produces seeds yielding an oil comprising from about 50% to about 70% erucic acid and from about 25% to about 35% oleic acid.  
     
     
         8 . The modified plant of    claim 7   , said modified plant further having a seed-specific reduction in palmitoyl ACP thioesterase activity and a seed-specific increase in delta-9 desaturase activity in comparison with a corresponding wild-type plant.  
     
     
         9 . The modified plant of    claim 8   , said modified plant further having a seed-specific reduction in delta-15 desaturase activity in comparison with a corresponding wild-type plant.  
     
     
         10 . A transgenic plant of a species that naturally produces erucic acid, said transgenic plant having at least one nucleic acid construct comprising a regulatory sequence operably linked to a fad2 coding sequence, said plant exhibiting a seed-specific reduction in delta-12 desaturase activity in comparison with a corresponding non-transgenic plant, wherein said transgenic plant produces seeds yielding an oil comprising from about 50% to about 70% erucic acid and from about 25% to about 35% oleic acid, based on total fatty acid composition.  
     
     
         11 . The transgenic plant of    claim 10   , said at least one construct further comprising a regulatory sequence operably linked to a palmitoyl ACP thioesterase coding sequence and a regulatory sequence operably linked to a delta-9 desaturase coding sequence, said plant exhibiting a seed-specific increase in delta-9 desaturase activity and a seed-specific reduction in palmitoyl ACP thioesterase activity in comparison with a corresponding non-transgenic plant.  
     
     
         12 . The transgenic plant of    claim 11   , said at least one construct further comprising a regulatory sequence operably linked to afad3 coding sequence, said plant exhibiting a seed-specific reduction in delta-15 desaturase activity in comparison with a corresponding non-transgenic plant.  
     
     
         13 . Progeny of the transgenic plant of    claim 12   , said progeny producing seeds yielding said oil having said erucic acid and said oleic acid contents.  
     
     
         14 . A method of producing an endogenous vegetable oil comprising crushing seeds of the plant of    claim 7    or    claim 10   , and extracting oil therefrom.  
     
     
         15 . An endogenous oil having an erucic acid content of from about 50% to about 70% and an oleic acid content of from about 25% to about 35%, based on total fatty acid composition.  
     
     
         16 . The oil of    claim 15   , wherein about 75% or greater of triacylglycerols of said oil comprise 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol.  
     
     
         17 . The oil of    claim 16   , wherein about 75% to about 90% of triacylglycerols of said oil comprise 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol.  
     
     
         18 . A high oxidative stability composition comprising a vegetable oil and an amount of 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol effective to increase oxidative stability of said vegetable oil.  
     
     
         19 . A hydraulic oil composition comprising: 
 a) an oil having a 1,3-dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol content of at least 50% based on total triacylglycerol composition and an additive.    
     
     
         20 . The composition of    claim 19   , wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, anti-rust additives, anti-wear additives, pour point depressants, viscosity-index improvers and anti-foam additives.  
     
     
         21 . The hydraulic oil of    claim 19   , wherein said additive is present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 20% based on the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         22 . A lubrication additive comprising a triacylglycerol containing oil having a 1,3 dierucoyl 2-oleoyl glycerol content of at least about 50% based on total triacylglycerol composition, said additive effective for reducing friction when present in lubrication fluid in amounts from about 2% to about 20% by weight in said lubrication fluid.