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Using vegetables to boost canola yield

Using vegetables to boost canola yield

An Alberta researcher will look at which genes from broccoli, cauliflower and other plants can support hybrid canola

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A University of Alberta scientist will be sifting through vegetable genes to find out which ones can help increase canola yield.

“We’ll be looking at the genes of cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and kale to identify which genes from these vegetables can increase seed yield in hybrid canola,” Plant Scientist Habibur Rahman told Farms.com.

Those vegetables belong to a species of plant known as Brassica oleracea. Others in this group include Brussels sprouts, collard greens and Savoy cabbage.

Rahman’s previous work proved that Brassica oleracea plants can improve canola hybrids because they carry genes for traits like early flowering and high oil content.

This research is an expansion of his past findings.

“Now that we know these plants can support canola, we’re going to pinpoint which genes are responsible for these benefits and use them to create better canola hybrids,” Rahman said.

But farmers shouldn’t expect to have these hybrids available to them soon.

He expects to test produce some of these hybrids in 2024-25 and field test them in 2025.

“From there, industry partners will have to decide which ones they approve of and use the parent line in their breeding program,” Rahman said. “You’re probably looking at six years before some commercial availability.”


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New research chair appointed to accelerate crop variety development

Video: New research chair appointed to accelerate crop variety development

Funded by Sask Wheat, the Wheat Pre-Breeding Chair position was established to enhance cereal research breeding and training activities in the USask Crop Development Centre (CDC) by accelerating variety development through applied genomics and pre-breeding strategies.

“As the research chair, Dr. Valentyna Klymiuk will design and deploy leading-edge strategies and technologies to assess genetic diversity for delivery into new crop varieties that will benefit Saskatchewan producers and the agricultural industry,” said Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD), dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at USask. “We are grateful to Sask Wheat for investing in USask research as we work to develop the innovative products that strengthen global food security.”

With a primary focus on wheat, Klymiuk’s research will connect discovery research, gene bank exploration, genomics, and breeding to translate gene discovery into improved varieties for Saskatchewan’s growing conditions.