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Winter oilseed crops are annual cool season Brassica crops which fit well within typical corn and soybean rotations. They are currently being adopted in Midwestern conventional agriculture systems. The ability to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from oil pressed from the seeds is the driving force of recent interest in the crops. The three main crops of interest in this study are canola (Brassica napus), pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), and camelina (Camelina sativa). To determine if production of winter oilseeds is feasible in Tennessee, three experiments were conducted. First, a field study variety trial was evaluated for winter oilseed ground coverage, seed yield, oil content, and subsequent soybean yield and quality. After two years of study at two locations in Tennessee, canola and pennycress performed well, while camelina did not survive the winters. Second, a bioassay was conducted to determine possible allelopathic effects of water extractable chemicals from canola and pennycress roots and stubble on the subsequent crop and spring weeds. Seeds of soybean (Glycine max), mare’s tail (Erigeron canadensis), and palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) were treated with extracts and evaluated for germination percentage, radicle length, and hypocotyl length. Water extractable compounds from canola and pennycress inhibit growth and germination of the herbicide resistant weeds, while not affecting soybean. Lastly, an economic analysis of winter oilseed production was conducted. Based on practices and yields from the field study, budgets were created for canola and pennycress, and breakeven and profitability analyses conducted. At present yields, inputs, and projected prices, canola production in Tennessee for biofuel production is profitable while pennycress is not profitable. With further research, increased breeding efforts, and the creation of a market for biofuels from winter oilseeds in Tennessee, winter oilseeds may become a valuable double crop to Tennessee producers.

Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) dominate the agricultural landscape in the Upper Midwest, but limits crop production to the summer months. There is a fallow period from late autumn through the spring that is associated with externalities such as nutrient loss and a lack of economically-viable crop production despite useable growing degree days during that period. Thus, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) and camelina (Camelina sativa L.) are crops of interest for use during the corn-soybean fallow period. While both crops have been researched heavily for the past decade, questions about their production remain unanswered. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to further understand how pennycress harvest can be optimized for use within the corn-soybean rotation; observe the agronomic and economic dynamics when camelina is integrated into the corn-soybean rotation as a winter cash crop; further describe the effect of camelina in nutrient loss prevention over the typically-fallow period; and assess the role of camelina in the corn-soybean carbon cycle. All agronomic experiments were carried out over the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. The pennycress experiment was conducted in Rosemount, MN, USA, while the camelina experiments were conducted in Morris and Rosemount, MN, USA. However, the research process does not end after data collection, analysis, and publication. For many scientists, there is a growing need to communicate findings with the general public rather than just to academic peers and industry and government stakeholders. This dissertation also explores the use of podcasting as a science communication medium though an experiential project, Hooked on Science.

Winter camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is a potential third crop that could be used to intensify maize [Zea mays L.]-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotations. It is considered a low-input crop, but previous studies have shown that it responds to added N. Yet, no formal fertilization studies have been conducted to determine optimum N levels for conditions in the upper Midwest. A study on camelina response to fertilizer N was conducted from fall 2018 to fall 2020 at three locations in Minnesota. The objectives were to: (i) determine the response of winter camelina to N and (ii) assess the effects of N fertilization strategy (fall-spring split or spring only application) on the productivity and quality of winter camelina. Data collected included grain yield, biomass, grain quality, and yield components. Grain yield and biomass were both affected by N in all locations and years, and both were higher in 2019 compared to 2020; among N rates, grain yield was significantly different, while no differences were found for biomass. Both, oil and protein content in grain were affected by N, with oil content generally declining with N rates increasing beyond 67 or 100 kg N ha-1, depending on location and year. Among yield components, branches and silicles per plant were significantly different among N rates; the former, along with the seed:shell ratio were significantly different in all years and locations. Based on the results of this study, a fertilization rate of 97 kg N ha-1 was found to maximize grain and oil yield of winter camelina in southwest Minnesota. Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the upper Midwest are productive, but decades of these monocultures with winter fallow and late spring planting are in part responsible for loss in agroecological functioning as well as nitrogen (N) pollution in the agricultural communities and downstream. Winter camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is a third crop that could grow during this fallow period, but the environmental impacts of its N requirements are not well known. A study was conducted at three locations in Minnesota to determine the response of winter camelina do N. Five N rates (0, 33, 67, 100, 135 kg N ha-1) and two application timings (spring, and fall-spring split) were used to assess the N use efficiency (NUE) and residual N in winter camelina grown for grain yield from fall 2018 to fall 2020. Results showed higher NUE for fall-spring split application compared to spring only application. The agronomic efficiency (AE), internal efficiency (IE), and nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) tended to decrease with increasing N rates; AE generally decreased beyond 67 kg N ha-1 in most instances. Total N uptake ranged from 34 to 176 kg ha-1 across N rates. Residual soil N increased with increasing N rates, especially at the 15 cm depth. Based on declining NUE and increasing residual soil N with increasing N rates, an N rate between 33 to 67 kg N ha-1 could balance an efficient use of fertilizer with less environmental risk of higher N rates. Double cropping with winter camelina is a diversification option for the typical maize-soybean rotation in the upper Midwest, a strategy that promises environmental and economic benefits. Studies on double-cropping maize and soybean with non-fertilized- (Study 1) and nitrogen (N)-fertilized (Study 2) winter camelina were compared to assess the growth and yield, N, water use (WU), and water productivity (WP) of winter camelina in two locations in Minnesota. Study 1 was conducted from 2015–2017 in one location and the Study 2 was conducted from 2018–2020 in two locations, both studies in Minnesota. Yield of winter camelina was as much as six times higher in Study 2 compared to Study 1; averaged across treatments, Study 2 yielded 1157 kg ha-1 compared to 556 kg ha-1 from Study 2. In Study 1, oil and protein content ranged from 26.4 to 27.2% and 19.4 to 27.1% respectively. In Study 2, oil and protein content ranged from 31.7 to 35.9% and 14.9 to 20.8% respectively. Water use tended to follow similar trends between studies. Winter camelina average WU across cropping systems was similar between Study 1 and Study 2 (165 compared to 168 mm). Camelina WP was higher in Study 2 compared to Study 1, and ranged from 0.60 to 0.84 and 0.20 to 0.42 respectively. Fertilizer N was generally found to increase biomass, yield, WU, WP, and residual soil N in winter camelina double cropped with maize and soybean.

Plant oils are an important source of food, fuel, and feed in our society today. The oil found in the seeds of plants is composed almost entirely of triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules, which consist of three fatty acids esterified to a glycerol backbone. As crude oil supplies decline, vegetable oils are gaining traction as a renewable substitute to petroleum-based materials in fuels, lubricants, and specialty oleochemicals. However, as it currently stands vegetable oils do not possess the properties necessary to fill the void of a petroleum free world. To address this problem, plant biotechnologists have done extensive work on genetic engineering the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway to produce designer oils that are specialized for nutritional or industrial use. However, the bottleneck seems to be the uptake of these specialized oils into TAG. To further investigate this problem, I have chosen to study fatty acid biosynthetic genes from the species Thunbergia laurifolia which naturally produces 90% petroselinic acid (18:1Δ6). This species was chosen because of the unusually high accumulation of one single fatty acid, therefore the hypothesis is that the enzymes involved in the pathway to produce this novel fatty acid are highly specific. In this study I successfully engineered camelina to produce ≥25% 18:1Δ6 using a specialized Δ6 desaturase, fatty acid thioesterase A, and lysophosphatidic acyltransferase from T. laurifolia. Advisor: Edgar Cahoon

To combat poverty and malnutrition, Feed the Future Tworore Inkoko, Twunguke (TI) has set out to teach Rwandan farmers how to grow broilers as additional income for the farmers and an additional protein source within the community to combat malnutrition. Throughout this program, the inputs and outputs of the farmers were recorded, and the goal is to determine an efficiency score for each flock raised and use that information to determine what factors contributed to a higher flock efficiency. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to determine the efficiency score of each flock. Using these efficiency scores, a regression will be estimated using the characteristics of the farmers that raised the flocks and the characteristics of the farms and flocks themselves. The results show that as the program advanced, newer farmers increased in efficiency more quickly when the entire trend was observed. The main source of protein for commercial broilers is obtained from soybean meal. With a high protein percentage and low anti-nutrient properties, soybean meal is a complete, low-cost source of protein. However, solely relying on one type of protein meal leaves broiler producers open to price volatility. It is beneficial to have an alternative protein meal source available to lower the overall feed cost or reduce price volatility risk. Camelina meal offers a way to supplement the protein meal in broiler feed to solve this problem. To identify the demand of camelina meal for broiler finisher feed, a linear programming model was constructed that determines how much camelina meal would be selected for multiple price points in relation to soybean meal price. To consider the distribution of protein around both camelina meal and soybean meal, the stochastic LP model will be estimated at 5000 iterations per price point with each iteration randomly selecting from the distributions of camelina meal and soybean meal. The results show that the average amount of camelina meal continues increasing until the price of camelina meal is 60% relative to the price of soybean meal with the maximum amount of camelina meal selected in the best-case-scenario also being reached at this price level.

Camelina sativa, a sustainable short-season cover crop, is an oilseed (35% oil) gaining interest due to the increasing global demand for sustainably sourced ingredients. Camelina provides numerous agricultural benefits—low production cost, low nitrogen requirements, drought resistance, cold weather tolerance, and short growing season—in addition to being high in protein (20%) and dietary fiber (30%), which are two of the fastest growing segments of the food ingredient market. In order to create functional, market-viable ingredients from camelina, the following need to be explored: efficient means of protein extraction, evaluation of protein functional properties, and chemical characterization of the dietary fiber constituents. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) determine the impact of oil pressing conditions and protein extraction protocol on protein yield and content; (2) characterize structural differences in proteins extracted following salt precipitation and pH solubilization; (3) determine the impact of structure and enzymatic modification on the functionality of the different protein extracts; (4) isolate, quantify, and characterize the insoluble and soluble dietary fiber fractions of defatted camelina meal (DCM) prepared by two different oil pressing conditions. Protein extraction by pH solubilization and salt precipitation was tested and optimized. Camelina meal obtained from hot and cold press was further defatted by hexane and analyzed for protein content. Protein from DCM was extracted following degumming and pH solubilization at pH 12, separating non-protein material by centrifugation, acidifying the supernatant to pH 5 to precipitate out the protein, neutralizing and desalting. Protein from DCM was also extracted following salt precipitation, first by solubilizing the protein using 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 8, 1 M NaCl), followed by precipitation using 85% saturated ammonium sulfate solution, and desalting. To produce protein hydrolysates, extracted proteins were subjected to hydrolysis with Aspergillus oryzae protease by pH-stat methodology to a degree of hydrolysis less than 8%. Protein purity of the extracts was analyzed, and mass balances were tracked in order to evaluate extraction yields. The denaturation state, protein profile, and surface hydrophobicity of the protein extracts were determined using DSC, SDS-PAGE, and a fluorometric assay, respectively. Functionality was evaluated by determining protein solubility as well as emulsification, foaming, and gelation properties. Total dietary fiber (TDF) from DCM was determined following the AOAC method 2011.25, and three fractions —insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), soluble dietary fiber that precipitates in 78% ethanol (SDFP), and soluble dietary fiber that is soluble in 78% ethanol (SDFS) — were isolated preparatively. IDF and SDFP were analyzed spectrophotometrically for pectin content. The monomers of IDF and SDFP fractions were determined by alditol acetate formation and measured by GC-FID. Degree of pectin methylation (DM) of SDFP was determined by 1H NMR. The degree of polymerization (DP) of saccharides in the SDFS fraction (DP 2 – DP 7) was determined by liquid chromatography-ESI-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using a ligand-exchange stationary phase and quantified by high performance anion exchange chromatography coupled with a pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD). Disaccharides in DCM were differentiated and quantified spectrophotometrically following standard enzymatic assays. Compared to camelina protein concentrates (CPC) produced by alkaline pH extraction, CPC produced by salt extraction were less denatured and more functional. The functionality of the salt extracted CPC was comparable and sometimes better than that of soy protein isolate (SPI). Specifically, the solubility of the salt extracted CPC at pH 3.4 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of SPI. Additionally, salt extracted CPC had significantly higher emulsification capacity and foaming capacity than SPI. On the other hand, the gelation property of CPC was inferior to that SPI, an observation attributed to the molecular size of camelina protein compared to SPI. Upon hydrolysis of CPC with Aspergillus oryzae protease, a limited benefit to solubility was noted at pH 7 post thermal treatment. TDF of DCM averaged 51.2% (45.3 – 49.1% IDF, 2.00 – 5.98% SDFP, 1.1 – 1.2% SDFS). The SDFS fraction was comprised mainly of stachyose and raffinose, which is in line with other Brassicaceae crops. The chief disaccharide present in DCM was verified to be sucrose (2.43 – 3.36%). Free glucose and fructose were also present in the SDFS fraction. Of the pectic polysaccharides measured in SDFP, low methoxyl pectin represented the major constituent, with a DM of 12.5 – 14.5%. Based on alditol acetate analysis, glucose was the main monomer in the IDF fraction. Other monosaccharides detected in the IDF fraction were xylose, arabinose, mannose, and galactose. The monosaccharide composition indicated the presence of cellulose, xyloglucans, galactomannans, and arabinoxylans in the IDF fraction. In SDFP, the monosaccharides rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and mannose were evenly distributed. Monomer composition of the SDFP fraction indicated the presence of pectin and galactomannans. Results show that camelina meal contains a significant amount of protein and dietary fiber that can be isolated into functional ingredients. This is the first study to provide a comprehensive evaluation of protein and dietary fiber from camelina as potential alternatives to traditional ingredients. Further work is needed to understand how isolated camelina ingredients interact in various food matrices.

Many agricultural watersheds in Minnesota have toxic levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, much of which originates in agricultural fields that are fallowed from October through May. Autumn-sown winter cover crops can be used to retain these nutrients. Soil NO3-N levels and and quantities of N sequestered by winter rye (Secale cereale), Tillage Radish® (Raphanus sativus), and the oilseed crops, winter camelina (Camelina sativa), and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) were evaluated in a relayed cover crop/soybean production system at three sites spanning the north-south climatic gradient of Minnesota. Tillage Radish® sequestered the most N in autumn, but winter-killed and had high soil NO3-N levels in spring. Winter rye was terminated chemically by early May at each site, whereas the oilseed crops were allowed to grow into June to full maturity and their seeds were harvested. In autumn through early May, winter camelina and pennycress sequestered about 25% less N than winter rye. However, they often sequestered ≥ 2.5 times more N than winter rye when compared at maximum seasonal biomass (up to 130 kg N ha-1), with some of this N coming from spring fertilizer application. The relative amount of applied N captured by oilseeds, defined here as applied N sequestration efficiency, was 95% and 68% for winter camelina and pennycress, respectively. Winter camelina yields ranged from 600 to 1100 kg ha-1, while pennycress yields ranged from 900 kg ha-1 to 1550 kg ha-1. When combined with yields of relay-cropped soybean, net income for relay-crop systems was generally equivalent to mono-cropped soybean.

Carinata Brassica carinata and camelina Camelina sativa are being genetically modified to improve their composition for biofuel production and other agricultural applications. After oil extraction, the residual de-oiled meals (40%) in protein. However, their inclusion in animal feeds is limited to 10% because of high levels of antinutritional factors (ANFs), mainly glucosinolates (GLS), sinapine, and crude fiber that limit diet intake, nutrient utilization, and lower thyroxine production, resulting in reduced growth. The nutritional value of carinata and camelina seed meals to fish were assessed by subjecting cold pressed (CP) carinata and camelina meals to extrusion (EX), solvent extraction (SE) and aerobic conversion (AC) or sequential process combinations to determine which process(es) yielded improved composition. Carinata meals generally yielded more crude protein and lower fiber. The primary protein increase for both meal types was due to oil removal and AC. Fiber increased with AC, but that step reduced GLS by at least 70%. Palatability was generally improved by SE. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for protein were generally higher in carinata than camelina meals for both Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (RBT) and Hybrid Striped (Sunshine) Bass Morone chrysops ♀ x M. saxatilis ♂ (HSB). Overall protein ADCs were higher in HSB than in RBT. The use of AC on protein ADC was more effective in camelina meals. Two experiments were conducted to determine the maximum GLS concentration from cold-pressed carinata meal (CPCM) containing 61.2 μmoles of GLS and 6.07 mg of sinapine/g of meal that could be tolerated in HSB diets. In experiment 1, there was no effect of up to 2.71 μmoles of GLS and 0.181 mg of sinapine/g of diet on diet palatability, thyroxines production, deiodinase enzyme activity, and consequently HSB growth. In experiment 2, concentrations of ≥5.58 μmoles of GLS and ≥0.54 mg of sinapine/g of diet reduced feed consumption, utilization, and growth. Reduction in palatability due to GLS and sinapine from CPCM may not enable fish to consume enough GLS and / or GLS breakdown products to impair thyroid function. GLS were not lethal to HSB. Based on meal composition, protein ADCs, palatability and GLS tolerance, solvent extracted aerobically converted carinata meal, followed by a single wash (ACCM), was chosen for growth performance trials. In the RBT growth trial, we determined how much fish meal (FM) could be replaced with ACCM. We replaced 25, 50 and 75% of FM in the reference diet containing 20% FM as the sole animal meal, composing diets of 44% crude protein and 17% crude lipid. Diets were balanced for nutrients and fiber. After a 56-day growth period, replacement of more than 25% FM by ACCM resulted in reduced growth partly due to reduced feed consumption. Condition factor (Fulton’s K) decreased with increased FM replacement. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) had an inverse relationship with diet consumption. Results of this study showed that more than 25% of FM cannot be replaced by ACCM in low FM/animal (20%) diets of RBT; improved utilization of ACCM by RBT may occur with more animal meal inclusion or additional processing of ACCM to improve the feeding value. In the HSB growth trial, we determined the maximum inclusion of ACCM or double-washed carinata meal, without AC (WCM) in low (20%) animal diets. We included ACCM at 10 and 30%; and WCM at only 30% of the diets. All diets contained ~44% crude protein 12% crude lipid, and were balanced for fiber. After a 106-day growth period, we observed that HSB fed 30% WCM had a similar weight gain to HSB fed the FM reference diet and 30% ACCM but better than HSB fed 10% ACCM. High (30%) amounts of ACCM or WCM improved feed consumption. FCR of WCM was better than that of ACCM. HSB fed 30% WCM had smaller livers and higher condition factors than HSB fed other treatment diets. Survival (>99%) was similar among treatments. Hematocrit (Hk) and hemoglobin (Hb) contents of HSB were improved by ACCM but not WCM. These results showed that the second wash in WCM improved feed utilization more than ACCM. However, the extra wash step in WCM likely reduced the iron content of WCM resulting in lower Hk and Hb. At the end of the RBT growth trial, trypsin activity, protein ADCs, amino acid ADCs and avaialability were measured to account for observed differences in protein utlization and thus growth. Trypsin activity and protein ADCs were not altered with increasing ACCM in diets. Replacement of more than 25% of FM reduced apparent digestibility of arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, and tyrosine. However, the above essential amino acids (EAAs) were not decreased in serum due to FM replacement with ACCM, although serum from RBT fed 75% ACCM contained lower lysine concentrations. ACCM diets had lower EAA peak concentrations and a slower release of EAAs in serum. Cumulative total EAAs in serum also decreased with ACCM inclusion. The pattern of total EAAs in serum for most sampling intervals best associated with muscle EAAs for the reference and 10 and 15% ACCM. Ratios of EAAs to lysine showed that tryptophan was the most limiting EAA. However, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, and phenylalanine were also inadequate for muscle synthesis for the first 9-12 hours after force-feeding. Optimal time for muscle synthesis was 36 or more hours because all EAAs were adequate except for isoleucine in the muscle of RBT fed the 10% ACCM diet. Following the HSB growth trial, trypsin activity, protein ADCs, amino acid ADCs and avaialability were measured to explain the observed differences in protein utilization and thus growth. Inclusion of up to 30% processed CM did not alter trypsin activity or protein ADCs. However, 30% ACCM reduced isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine and valine ADCs. Feeding high ACCM (30%) reduced serum arginine and leucine. All inclusions of ACCM or WCM increased serum methionine. High inclusions of ACCM or WCM (30%) increased serum tryptophan and valine. The reference and 30% WCM diets resulted in the highest total essential amino acids (EAAs) in serum but the release of total EAAs in serum of HSB fed 30% WCM was elevated continuously over a longer period. High inclusions of ACCM or WCM (30%) increased muscle histidine but resulted in lower leucine and phenylalanine. Only 30% WCM increased muscle lysine and valine. However, all inclusion levels of ACCM or WCM increased muscle methionine. High inclusions of ACCM or WCM (30%) in diets resulted in more available total EAAs over a longer period. Muscle EAA to lysine ratios showed that only histidine concentrations were adequate for muscle synthesis over the 36-hour period.

Camelina sativa is a cold weather crop that is typically grown in semi-arid environments in the Western United States, usually as a spring crop, but sometimes during the winter. Research analyzing climate data and soil hydrology is important to better understand the environmental and terrain conditions necessary for Camelina farming wherever it is proposed for large-scale production. This study focused on various conditions and constraints pertaining to the potential for Camelina as a crop biofuel in Eastern Arkansas. Due to interest in the economic potential of crop biofuels in this area, and in particular the low input costs for Camelina, experimental farming began as early as 2013. Farmers in Eastern Arkansas grow soybeans during the summer and fall months, leaving Camelina to be grown in the winter and spring months as a potential second rotational crop. Initial experiments have been unsuccessful, with farmers attributing this result to suboptimal climate and soil conditions. Data and research compiled from literature, along with climate and soil hydrology data in the region show significant differences in environmental conditions in Eastern Arkansas when compared to areas of successful Camelina farming. Previous research has shown that Camelina requires at most 15 inches of rainfall, with successful yields in California from just 7.5 inches of rainfall. Camelina grows best in semi-arid environments, with research and field trials indicating the crop having difficulty growing in wetter regions. Results of the study indicate that climate and terrain conditions in Eastern Arkansas are far too wet, and do not seem suitable for large-scale Camelina production. However, small-scale Camelina production may be viable in select suitable fields.

Abstract: Genetically modified crops with putative fitness-enhancing traits are being field-tested throughout Canada and the world, but robust methods with which to compare their fitness with conventional cultivars are lacking. Additionally, field analyses of GM crops in non-agricultural areas are complicated because novel GM crops have no naturalized populations and creating sufficiently large populations for study under containment is difficult. Using the tools afforded to us by population matrix modeling, we may estimate and compare the fitness of GM crops with conventional (comparator) cultivars. We present methodology to establish populations of GM crops under confinement and develop suggestions for possible assessment endpoints based on the population growth rate of a GM crop and comparator cultivar (assessment endpoint scenarios). Finally, we used assessment endpoint scenarios and stochastic estimates of population growth to determine that the invasiveness of a hybrid canola cultivar was generally no greater than an open-pollinated variety, and, in fact, was less in some environments.

Abstract: A series of experiments was conducted to explore the potential of including novel sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in broiler and laying hen diets. Camelina cake (CC), the co-product remaining after pressing of oil from camelina seed for biofuel production, was fed to broilers. Genetically modified stearidonic acid-enhanced flaxseed oil (SDAflax), was included in laying hen diets. Increasing levels of CC (0, 8, 16 and 24%) were fed to broiler chickens to evaluate the lipid deposition response in brain, liver, breast and thigh tissue. Increasing dietary CC inclusion linearly increased the proportion of long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA (P

Over the 2013/2014 growing season a Camelina growth trial was undertaken at Ashley Dene, Canterbury, New Zealand to determine the response to different sowing dates, sowing rates and the application of plant growth regulators. This was done to analyse how the crop grows and develops in New Zealand conditions and the effect that agronomic mangement has. There were three sowing dates spread out over the spring period and three different sowing rates 2,4 and 6 kg ha⁻¹ of 'Calena' and a treatment of 1L/ha Cycocel® plant growth regular was applied to half the subplots. Emergence, plant populations, plant characteristics, growth stages, biomass yields, seed yields, weed yields and oil content was measured. It was clear from emergence counts that there was significant seedling deaths for sowing date one and two with maximum survival being 31% and 56% respectively, compared to a minimum of 96% for sowing date three and this was attributed to herbicide interaction with cold temperatures. Consequently seed yield was highest for sowing date 3 on 1211 kg ha⁻¹ compared to 883 kg ha⁻¹ and 577 kg ha⁻¹ for sowing date one and two. However despite the significant population decrease sowing date one and three had similar biomass yields. Sowing rate interactions however were consistent and seed yield, biomass and density all increased with increasing sowing rate. Plant growth regulators only effected plant height and were unnecessary as there was no lodging observed. This experiment proved that sowing date has more effect on biomass yield than sowing rate and lodging is not a significant issue in Camelina. It also proved how sensitive Camelina is to herbicide damage.

Abstract: Camelina is currently being evaluated as bioindustrial platform crop on the Canadian Prairies. Prior to unconfined release of genetically engineered (GE) camelina, an environmental risk assessment must be conducted. Camelina pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF) was assessed using a dominant DsRed seed-expressed transgene in small and large plot experiments. Intraspecific small plot PMGF examined approximately 8 M seeds. Outcrossing was low, ranging from 0.09 to 0.28% at up to 0.6 m distance. Large plot assessment screened over 19 M seeds and detected a maximum PMGF of 0.78% immediately adjacent to the pollen source. However, PMGF rapidly declined by 99% at 9.99 m (± 0.18 m) from the pollen source with rare events (≤ 0.001%) at 20 m. Interspecific PMGF to weedy relative shepherd’s purse was examined under greenhouse and small plot conditions. Zero hybrids were detected in 103,000 and 30,000 seeds respectively which corresponds to PMGF at or below 0.1 and 0.025%. Camelina is self-fertile with a low propensity for interspecific gene flow that should not constrain novel cultivar development. A study of camelina seed-mediated gene flow quantified seed bank inputs, longevity, and emergence in growers fields. Seed losses incurred at harvest were high and variable (1,202 to 43,430 viable seeds m-2). Seed banks became 99% depleted within 15 months. In the year following production, camelina volunteer populations were initially high (1,208 plants m-2) but declined to nearly extinct (0.6 plants m-2) by two years post-production. While seed bank inputs can be high, camelina’s brief persistence limits weediness in agricultural areas.

Abstract: Hydrogenation-derived renewable diesel (HDRD) is a promising alternative fuel due to its excellent low-temperature properties, cetane number, and similarity to fossil diesel. Using Alberta as a basis, data-intensive techno-economic models and life cycle assessment models were developed to estimate costs and environmental impacts of HDRD produced from canola and camelina. The estimated vegetable oil production costs, total HDRD production costs, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and net energy ratios (NERs) are: Canola: $0.55/L, $1.09/L, 33 – 94 gCO2e/MJ, 1.2 – 2.2 MJ/MJ Camelina: $0.28/L, $0.85/L, 30 – 82 gCO2e/MJ, 1.0 – 2.3 MJ/MJ. These costs are for processing and production plants at their economically optimum sizes of 190 million L/year canola oil plant, 120 million L/year camelina oil plant, and 812 million L/year HDRD plant. HDRD appears to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly to produce from camelina than canola. However, if camelina meal cannot be sold, the total camelina-based HDRD production cost rises to $1.37/L, GHGs rise and NER drops, making canola-based HDRD more attractive.