The new technology called 'transport engineering' developed by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and can prevent unwanted toxins that plants produce to defend themselves against potential enemies, from herbivorous pests to diseases, from entering the its edible parts.
"We have developed an entirely new technology that we call 'transport engineering'. It can be used to eliminate unwanted substances from the edible parts of crops," head of the Center of Excellence for Dynamic Molecular Interactions (DynaMo) at the University of Copenhagen, Professor Barbara Ann Halkier said.
Oilseed rape plants produce 'glucosinolates' to protect themselves. Farmers can only use limited quantities of the protein-rich rapeseed for pig and chicken feed due its presence which is harmful to most animals when consumed in large amounts.
"We managed to find two proteins that transport glucosinolates into the seeds of the thale cress plant, a close relative of the oilseed rape. When we subsequently produced thale cress without these two proteins, the remarkable result was that their seeds were completely free of glucosinolates and thus suitable for feed," Halkier said in a press release.
The findings were published in scientific journal 'Nature'.
Unlike the healthy glucosinolates found in broccoli, oilseed rape additionally produces a glucosinolate. Worldwide, oilseed rape is the third most widely grown oilseed-producing crop.