The present invention provides methods of marker assisted selection for
high oleic/low linolenic traits in canola and in other oil seed crop
species, as well as isolated nucleic acids for use as molecular markers
in such methods. In particular, molecular markers and Brassica nucleic
acid corresponding to fad2 and fad3 gene mutations are disclosed. The
markers of the present invention are highly useful for the direct
selection of desirable fad2 and fad3 alleles during marker-assisted trait
introgression and breeding. In a one aspect of the embodiment, two single
nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are provided which correspond to
the alleles. Thus, the present invention advantageously permits one of
skill in the art to breed for the molecular markers described herein, or
derivatives thereof, rather than breeding for a high oleic/low linolenic
phenotype.