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The constant growth of urbanization and population of the planet are driving to a global energy growth. At the same time, society is increasingly aware of the consequences of environmental problems due to climate change and active extraction of fossil fuels. Biodiesel is intended to make a significant contribution to the future energy needs of the economies of developed countries. In this regard, the oilseed crop Crambe abyssinica attracts attention as an energy culture. The purpose of the current study was to identify the possible areas of the use of Crambe abyssinica and to collect data on the crop productivity in the world on the basis of bibliometric analysis. The current paper has described the range of possibilities for using Crambe abyssinica, mainly for non-food aim, namely in cosmetics, perfumery, in technical industry, as an adsorbent for wastewater, etc. There has been established that Crambe abyssinica produc[1]tivity in the world, depending on the region of cultivation, varies within significant limits from 0.6 to 5 t/ha and varies greatly due to climatic conditions. There has been shown that the productivity of the domestic varieties of Crambe abyssinica ‘Polet’, ‘Demetra’ and ‘Arfa’ produces 3.06-3.22 t/ha in the Middle Volga region, 1.45 t/ha in the Saratov region, 0.54–1.55 t/ha in the Crimea. The diversity of crop genotypes has indicated that there are wide opportunities for further breeding improvement in the varieties possessing better fatty acid composition using advanced methods to modify existing genetic resources.

The base oils must meet the high technical and ecological requirements for the raw materials used in the production of lubricants. The relevant useful properties can be obtained by mixing the vegetable oil with mineral or synthetic oil. The paper presents the results of tests of mixtures of oil obtained from Crambe Abyssinica seeds with mineral and synthetic oil. A variation of tested mixtures with regard to thermooxidative stability and antiwear properties were found. The mixtures with the most favourable properties were recommended as a base oils during the production of ecological lubricants.

The cultivation of (Crambe abyssinica) stands out as a potential raw material for the formulation of biofuels, gaining space among renewable energy sources, in addition to the aptitude for crop rotation and green coverage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive response of crambe when cultivated at different spacings and plant populations at different sowing times in the western region of Paraná. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, factorial 3x3x4, with three sowing times, three spacings (17, 34 and 51 cm) and four plant densities (60, 90, 120 and 150 plants m²), with three replications, totaling 108 parcels, each parcel presenting 24 m². The cultivar used was 'FMS Brilhante'. The parameters evaluated were: plant height, number of racemes per plant, average length of racemes per plant, number of fruits per plant, number of fruits per raceme and yield. The sowing of crambe carried out on 26/04/2013 provided the best results. The population of 90 plants m² favored the best plant growth and fruiting. The 51 cm spacing between rows showed better responses for productivity. The use of larger spacing with medium plant densities, combined with early sowing, favored the morphological and productive characteristics of the crambe plant. A cultura do (Crambe abyssinica) destaca-se como matéria-prima em potencial para formulação de biocombustíveis, ganhando espaço entre fontes de energias renováveis, além da aptidão para rotação de culturas e cobertura verde. Objetivou-se avaliar a resposta produtiva do crambe quando cultivado em diferentes espaçamentos e populações de plantas em distintas épocas de semeadura na região oeste do Paraná. Delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, esquema fatorial 3x3x4, com três épocas de semeadura, três espaçamentos (17, 34 e 51 cm) e quatro densidades de plantas (60, 90, 120 e 150 plantas m2), com três repetições, perfazendo 108 parcelas, apresentando cada parcela 24 m2. A cultivar utilizada foi a ‘FMS Brilhante’. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: altura de planta, número de racemos por planta, comprimento médio dos racemos por planta, número de frutos por planta, número de frutos por racemo e produtividade. A semeadura do crambe realizada em 26/04/2013 foi a que proporcionou melhores resultados. A população de 90 plantas m2 favoreceu o melhor crescimento e frutificação de planta. O espaçamento entre linhas de 51 cm apresentou melhores respostas para produtividade. O emprego de maiores espaçamentos com densidades de plantas medianas, conciliadas a semeaduras precoces, favoreceram as características morfológicas e produtivas da planta crambe.

As an important industrial feedstock, wax esters (WEs) have been used as lubricants in a number of technical processes. There is however currently no large-scale biological source for WE production and alteration in metabolic pathways of plant oils for producing WEs could be attractive to the commercial markets. Here, we present the breeding results of long-term studies on successful development of new crambe lines producing WEs through genetic engineering and cross breeding. The transgenic crambe lines producing WEs at over 25% of the total seed oil were first generated by introduction of the jojoba WE biosynthetic genes ScFAR and ScWS. Further improvement of the lines aiming at improving oxidative stability of WEs was achieved through introducing the CaFAD2-RNAi gene into these lines by crossing. The hybrid lines possessed similar agronomic traits to the wild type and a stable level of WEs over several generations, suggesting a high potential of crambe as an industrial crop for WE production.

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst R.E. Fries) has recently attracted a renewed interest by the bio-based industry due to its high seed oil content (up to 57%), particularly erucic acid (up to 65% of total fatty acids), short growing cycle, and high drought tolerance. A field trial was conducted during four consecutive growing seasons (2016−19) in Greece, Poland, and Italy. The commercial crambe variety (Galactica) was sown in early, intermediate, and late sowing dates in spring at two seeding rates (LD: 100 seeds m−2, and HD: 200 seeds m−2) in a factorial design at each test location. Mean crambe seed yields exceeded 1.5 Mg DM ha-1 across all years and locations. Italy and Greece were the most productive sites, with average seed yields of 2.11 Mg DM ha-1 and 1.97 Mg DM ha-1, respectively. Oil yield, which was only determined in Italy and Poland, was about 30% greater in the southern environment (Italy). Nevertheless, 1000-seed weight was greater in Poland (6.49 g) than Italy (6.12 g), revealing that lower temperatures during seed filling resulted in heavier seeds. In conclusion, sowing date played a key role in crambe productivity, with the earliest sowing resulting in highest yields across all locations.

The sustainable production of renewable energy is a key topic on the European community’s agenda in the next decades. The use of residuals from agriculture could not be enough to meet the growing demand for energy, and the contribution of vegetable oil to biodiesel production may be important. Moreover, vegetable oil can surrogate petroleum products in many cases, as in cosmetics, biopolymers, or lubricants production. However, the cultivation of oil crops for the mere production of industrial oil would arise concerns on competition for land use between food and non-food crops. Additionally, the economic sustainability is not always guaranteed, since the mechanical harvesting, in some cases, is still far from acceptable. Therefore, it is difficult to plan the future strategy on bioproducts production from oil crops if the actual feasibility to harvest the seeds is still almost unknown. With the present review, the authors aim to provide a comprehensive overview on the state of the art of mechanical harvesting in seven herbaceous oil crops, namely: sunflower (Heliantus annuus L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.), camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica R. E. Fr.), and castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). The review underlines that the mechanical harvesting of sunflower, canola and cardoon seeds is performed relying on specific devices that perform effectively with a minimum seed loss. Crambe and safflower seeds can be harvested through a combine harvester equipped with a header for cereals. On the other hand, camelina and castor crops still lack the reliable implementation on combine harvesters. Some attempts have been performed to harvest camelina and castor while using a cereal header and a maize header, respectively, but the actual effectiveness of both strategies is still unknown.

The research was aimed at assessing oil quality obtained from Crambe abyssinica Hochst. cultivated in the Crimea. In our studies, we used variety ‘Polet’. It has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2012 and is recommended for all areas of this crop production. The content of crude protein in the seeds of Crambe abyssinica was 28.0%; fiber – 18.7%, ash – 6.0%, nitrogen-free extractive substances – 3.5%. In 2016, the fat content in seeds (earlier planting dates such as the second decade of March) amounted to 33.63%; the third decade of March – 33.83%; the first decade of April – 29.73%. The content of erucic acid, depending on the planting date, in the Crambe abyssinica Hochst. oil varied from 56.47 to 60.05%; linoleic – from 7.90 to 8.12%; linolenic – from 4.67 to 5.33; oleic – from 15.75 to 17.32; eicosene – from 3.02 to 4.85%; behenic – from 2.03 to 2.15%.

The urgent need to reduce the use of fossil sources, whether agricultural inputs or fuels, and to promote a more sustainable means of production has become an incessant search worldwide. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be an important alternative once they act in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in the soil and in the maintenance of soil and plant health and quality. Crambe abyssinica has been recognized as an important crop for the production of high-quality biodiesel. The identification of specific PGPR are of great importance for the production of sustainable and low-cost biodiesel. The effect of four different PGPR and its mixture, on the growth and yield of Crambe was assessed in a greenhouse setting. Six treatments were used: Azospirillum brasilense (strain Ab-V5), Methylobacterium komagatae (strain ZM), Rhizobium sp. (strain 8.1.2.1), Azomonas sp. (strain 4.3.1.2), a mixture of these four and no inoculation. Plant height and stem diameter, the area of roots, and yield were evaluated. M. komagatae, Azomonas sp. and Rhizobium sp. provided an average of 102% greater root area compared to uninoculated crambe. However, only M. komagatae provided a significant yield increase (108%). The positive responses of a bacterium not previously reported as growth-promoting enables also a series of study possibilities such as the elucidation of the mechanisms of association and testing in other plantas, particularly other Brassicaceae.

This study aimed to evaluate the total contents of As, Cu and Zn in the profile of a Haplic Cambisol cultivated with crambe and corn and fertilized with sanitary sewage sludge and to compare them with those obtained in other forms of fertilization, as well as the content of metals in the grain of these crops. Two experiments were carried out in the field, one with maize cultivation and another with crambe, both were delineated as randomized blocks with four treatments and six replicates, which were: without fertilization, fertilization with sewage sludge dewatered and dried in the sun, with dry sewage sludge and with mineral fertilizers. At the end of the experiments soil samples were collected at 15, 50, 100, 150 and 200 cm depth for analysis of the total contents of As, Cu and Zn, as well as the grain of the crops. No differences were observed among the treatments. The total contents of As, Cu and Zn in the soil in both experiments and in the corn grains are below the limits of prevention and the maximum limit in grains established by the Brazilian resolutions. In relation to depth, the metal contents in the samples collected from the soil submitted to the fertilization treatments were similar to those quantified in the plots that did not received fertilization, but there was accumulation of Cu and Zn in the upper layers of the soil that received fertilization. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os teores totais de As, Cu e Zn no perfil de um Cambissolo Háplico cultivado com crambe e milho e adubado com lodo de esgoto sanitário e compará-los com os obtidos em outras formas de adubação, bem como o teor de metais no grão dessas culturas. Foram realizados dois experimentos a campo, um com cultivo de milho e outro com crambe, ambos delineados em blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições, sendo eles: sem adubação, adubação com lodo de esgoto desaguado e seco ao sol, com lodo de esgoto e com fertilizantes minerais. Ao final dos experimentos foram coletadas amostras de solo nas profundidades de 15, 50, 100, 150 e 200 cm para análise dos teores totais de As, Cu e Zn, bem como os grãos das culturas. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os tratamentos. Os teores totais de As, Cu e Zn no solo em ambos os experimentos e nos grãos de milho estão abaixo dos limites de prevenção e do limite máximo em grãos estabelecidos pelas resoluções brasileiras. Em relação à profundidade, os teores de metais nas amostras coletadas do solo submetidos aos tratamentos de adubação foram semelhantes aos quantificados nas parcelas que não receberam adubação, mas houve acúmulo de Cu e Zn nas camadas superiores do solo que recebeu a fertilização.

The aim of this study was to determine the energy and economic efficiency ofCamelina sativaandCrambe abyssinicaproduction on a commercial plantation. The study was based on a three-year large- scale trial. The energy and economic inputs in the production of camelina and crambe were similar and were dominated by the consumption of fertilisers. The average yield of camelina and crambe seeds was very similar but the yield of camelina was more stable. The average energy gain from production of camelina was higher by 4.9% compared with the crambe. The average income from camelina seeds production (876.3 €ha-1) was higher by almost 12% than for crambe. The average energy efficiency ratio for production of camelina seeds (2.00) was higher by 5.7% compared with the crambe. The average energy efficiency ratio for the production of total biomass (seeds and straw) of camelina (4.74) was higher by 4.2% compared with the crambe. The revenue from camelina seeds was on average 312 €ha-1and was 36% higher than that from crambe seeds, while the revenue from camelina total biomass production was on average 432.6 €ha-1and was 26% higher than the value obtained from crambe production.

Raphanus sativus L. and Crambe abyssinica Hochst. are promising crops for supplying oil to chemical industries. They are not used for human consumption and can be grown off-season due to their short life cycle. However, drought may limit their growth, photosynthesis and productivity. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the morphological and physiological responses of R. sativus and C. abyssinica subjected to water deficit to identify the strategies used by these species to tolerate the effects of water stress. Two independent experiments for R. sativus and C. abyssinica were conducted with different water replacements: 100% (control), 66% and 33% of the field capacity. The characteristics of water relations, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, chloroplastidic pigments, morphology and root distribution in the soil profile were evaluated separately in both crops. The results indicate the ability of both species to control water loss. In R. sativus and C. abyssinica, the cell turgor and consequently photosynthesis and growth were maintained even under drought conditions. The maintenance of water status was achieved by osmotic adjustment in R. sativus, and also the root distribution and deepening in both species. Such responses allowed R. sativus and C. abyssinica to be classified as tolerant to drought conditions.

Understanding the influence of row spacing and plant density on grain yield and yield components of crambe is critical in order to obtain higher grain yields. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of row spacing and plant density on grain yield and its components in crambe in two distinct regions of Brazil (Marechal Candido Rondon-PR, MCR-PR, and Botucatu-SP, BTU-SP). Narrow and wide row spacing (0.20 and 0.40 m) combined with four plant densities (15, 25, 35, and 45 plants m-1) were evaluated in a randomized block layout with four replications in a 2 × 4 factorial design. The experiment at BTU-SP was run under rainfed conditions with supplementary irrigation, whereas the experiment at MCR-PR was run under rainfed conditions without supplementary irrigation. Both experiments were run in soils classified as Oxisols. There was no interaction between row spacing and plant density. Highest grain yield with supplementary irrigation was observed at 0.20 m row spacing. Without irrigation, row spacing did not affect grain yield owing to the plasticity of crop. The highest grain yield was observed with approximately 30 plants m-1 at both experimental locations. A strong negative correlation was observed between final plant population and number of grains per plant. There was high plant mortality, particularly at high plant densities cultivated under irrigation. Higher mortality occurred because of high intraspecific competition and a larger disease incidence due to the higher humidity in the irrigated experiment. A mechanism of self-adjustment by plant density was observed in crambe, with its intensity dependent on plant density and environmental conditions, such as water and nutrient availability and light incidence.

Crambe abyssinica (crambe) is a new industrial oil crop that can grow on saline soil and tolerates salty water irrigation. Genetically engineered crambe in which the seed‐oil composition is manipulated for more erucic acid and less polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) would be highly beneficial to industry. In this research, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 RNA interference (CaLPAT2‐RNAi) was introduced into the crambe genome to manipulate its oil composition. The result showed in comparison with wild type, CaLPAT2‐RNAi could significantly reduce linoleic and linolenic acid content, simultaneously increasing erucic acid content. Systematic metabolism engineering was then carried out to further study CaLPAT2‐RNAi, combined with the overexpression of Brassica napus fatty acid elongase (BnFAE), Limnanthes douglasii LPAT (LdLPAT), and RNAi of endogenous fatty acid desaturase 2 (CaFAD2‐RNAi). Oil composition analysis on the tranformants' seeds showed that (a) with CaFAD2‐RNAi, PUFA content could be dramatically decreased, in comparison with BnFAE + LdLPAT + CaFAD2‐RNAi, and BnFAE + LdLPAT + CaFAD2‐RNAi + CaLPAT2‐RNAi seeds showed lower linolenic acid content; (b) BnFAE + LdLPAT + CaFAD2‐RNAi + CaLPAT2‐RNAi could increase the erucic acid content in crambe seed oil from less than 66.6% to 71.6%, whereas the highest erucic acid content of BnFAE + LdLPAT + CaFAD2‐RNAi was 79.2%; (c) although the four‐gene combination could not increase the erucic acid content of seed oil to a higher level than the others, it led to increased carbon resource deposited into C22:1 and C18:1 moieties and lower PUFA. Summarily, the present research indicates that suppression of LPAT2 is a new, promising strategy for seed‐oil biosynthesis pathway engineering, which would increase the value of crambe oil.

Crambe ( Crambe abyssinica Hochst) is a Brassicaceae crop with high potential for biofuel production without conflict with food industry and with similar energy performance to fossil fuels, but there is almost no information on soil conditions affecting crop grain and oil production. We studied the spatial correlation between soil porous space, soil resistance to penetration, and bulk density of a clayey Oxisol (Ferralsol) with crambe grain yield and oil content. Four states of compaction were generated by using a roller compactor, in a 1-ha field, and 133 georeferenced sampling points were selected. In two consecutive years, these positions were used for soil physical characterization, and crambe harvesting for grain yield and oil content determinations. Soil resistance to penetration, bulk density, and pore space properties showed spatial dependence structure over time in three soil layers. After two years of crambe cultivation, soil bulk density and soil resistance to penetration values increased, and soil porosity decreased in all soil layers, showing that crambe root system was not able to improve soil physical composition properties. Soil bulk density up to 1.3 Mg m −3 reduced grain yield and increased oil content of crambe. Increased soil bulk density and resistance to penetration, caused by additional soil compaction, changes crambe source/sink relationship, resulting in lower crambe grain yield, but in grains with higher oil content.

The soxhlet oil extraction method provides a large amount of oil when compared to other methods, however the commonly used solvents are not always effective. The objective of this work was to compare the efficiency of two solvents in different moisture contents in the extraction of peanut oil (Arachis hypogaea L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), soybean (Glycine max), crambe (Crambe abyssinica) and canola (Brassica napus L.). The experiment was conducted in a 5 × 2×2 factorial scheme, and five grain moisture contents (9.44%, 7.76%, 6.68%, 6.82% and 7.77%) were tested for canola, crambe, peanut, sunflower and soybean, respectively, two solvents (petroleum ether and hexane) and four repetitions, totaling 80 experimental units. The solvents presented have no influence on the content of sunflower oil and soybean, while extractions of dry grains result in an increase in the content of sunflower oil, regardless of the solvent used. The interaction between the solvent of hexane (without moisture in the grains) optimizes the extraction of canola oil. It was also verified the highest percentage of peanut oil content (43.49%) extracted with petroleum ether with moisture in the grains (6.69%). For the grains of crambe, the humidity of (7.76%) presented the best percentage with 11.95% of oil.

Biochar is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of change in the composition by the action of high temperatures. Advantages of biochar in soil quality have been reported, including amelioration of salinity effects. Crambe has great potential to figure as raw material for biofuel, since it naturally contains up to 60% of erucic acid. This study evaluated crambe growth in a soil amended with biochar and irrigated with saline waters. A greenhouse experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design with five levels of biochar, two irrigation water supplies, and four replications. Parameters related to soil chemical properties, crambe growth, oil, and macronutrient contents were evaluated. Biochar presented significance for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) contents. Crambe growth parameters decreased with the doses of biochar. Oil and macronutrient contents were in accordance to previous studies.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:40:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-01-01 Plants affect soil phosphorus (P) solubility through root exudates, but studies are lacking on species used as relay or cover crops in tropical environments. We evaluated the effect of cover crops on soil phosphorus (P) availability in an oxisol. Ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), crambe (Crambe abyssinica), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) were grown in pots with soil. Phosphorus uptake, soil inorganic and organic P, maximum P adsorption capacity, and plant root systems were assessed. When root length density is high, the efficiency of P uptake is low due to root competition. Crambe results in greater soil P availability, while peanut and sorghum decrease the soil maximum P adsorption capacity, probably by exuding or stimulating microbial production of organic acids and phenolic compounds. Hence, crambe, peanut, and sorghum are species that may be of interest to increase P use efficiency in cropping systems. Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Crop Sci, Coll Agr Sci, CP 237, BR-18601370 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Crop Sci, Coll Agr Sci, CP 237, BR-18601370 Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Crambe abyssinica is a non-food crop referenced in the literature as having high potential for renewable energy production. A comprehensive study regarding cultivation of Crambe was developed considering agronomic aspects (plant density, irrigation and fertilization), climatic aspects (weather conditions) and environmental impacts (life cycle assessment). This is probably the first study carried out with this specie in Portugal aiming to evaluate its adaptability and the potential impacts caused by its cultivation. Crambe was cultivated during four growing seasons using seeds of FMS Brilhante cultivar with a germination rate of 84%. The seeds yields were 742 kg ha−1; 119 kg ha−1 and 95 kg ha−1 for the first, second and third growing seasons, respectively, lower than that reported in Brazilian studies (989–1347 kg.ha−1). The fourth growing season did not produce seeds due to prevalence of cold weather. The seeds oil content varied between around 26% and 34%. The first growing season showed the best growing cycle, the results evidencing that weather conditions, namely temperature and soil´s moisture, possibly influence not only seeds yield but also oil yield. Mild temperatures until flowering and high water availability allowed achieving good emergence rates on shorter periods (between 19–43 days). Life cycle assessment performed according ISO 14040:2006 showed that the impacts related to Crambe cultivation in extensive farming mode (with organic fertilization and small inputs of labor) are mainly related to the consumption of diesel and electricity used in the preparation of field for sowing and its irrigation. Overall, Crambe cultivation showed lower impact for climate change than that verified for others systems in extensive mode.

The search for vegetal species regarding effectiveness in the phytoremediation of soils is of great importance, mainly in function of the great environmental problems, such as soil contamination with heavy metals, the necessity of producing more food, among others that mankind face today. This work aimed (i) to evaluate phytoremediation capacity of Crambe abyssinica Hochst and its growth in soil artificially contaminated with Cd and Pb, and (ii) to evaluate the possible impacts of crambe cultivation in contaminated soil conditions, in order to evaluate, to test, and to question the Brazilian CONAMA 420, providing important information that can be useful for governmental and environmental purposes. Two simultaneous experiments were developed, one for each metal. The soils were contaminated with salts of CdCl2 and PbCl2H2O in five doses based on the investigation values (IV) of CONAMA Resolution 420, resulting in 0; 1.5; 3; 9 and 30 mg kg−1 for Cd and 33; 90; 180; 540 and 1800 mg kg−1 for Pb. Gaseous exchange, development, nutritional composition and production of plant components, as well as phytoavailability of metals, were evaluated. The contamination with metals reduced photosynthesis, increased breathing as well as leading to a negative effect on the mineral nutrition and productivity in general; Plants cultivated in soil with Cd presented higher phytoavailability when compared to those cultivated in the Pb conditions, being found metals in all parts of the crambe plants from 1.5 mg kg− 1 of Cd in the soil; and Pb was retained only in roots, not being translocated in the plant. Cd showed higher phytoavailability, being found in all parts of the plant and Pb was retained only in the roots. Cd showed a higher phytoavailability when compared to Pb, also being found in all parts of crambe plants from dose 1.5 mg kg-1 of Cd in soil, which is an environmental problem, since in these concentrations the cultivation of crops is allowed by Brazilian legislation CONAMA 420.

Este artigo teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento das principais características da oleaginosa Crambe abyssinica, abordando desde a ecologia e morfologia da espécie até as condições de cultivo e produção de biodiesel. Realizou-se um estudo qualitativo por meio de revisão de literatura sobre a espécie e a produção de biodiesel, analisando materiais bibliográficos produzidos entre os anos de 1970 e 2019 indexados em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Os resultados demonstraram que devido ao ciclo curto e a alta produção de triglicerídeos nas sementes, a espécie, apresenta elevado potencial para a produção de biodiesel. Somado a isso, a cultura demonstra características interessantes para o produtor, como baixo custo de produção, tolerância às variações de temperatura e estresse hídrico, podendo ser utilizada em rotação de culturas e como planta de cobertura do solo. Com a revisão bibliográfica foi possível descrever o perfil cromatográfico do óleo de Crambe abyssinica além de verificar a estimativa do esgotamento de combustíveis fósseis para as próximas décadas, associado ao aumento da demanda energética no planeta. A utilização do biodiesel está relacionada a fatores ambientais por possibilitar a diminuição de emissão de gases tóxicos e a reciclagem de nutrientes e a fatores sociais e econômicos por beneficiar produtores rurais, conforme demonstra vasta literatura. Diante destas considerações, verificou-se a viabilidade do cultivo de Crambe abissynica para obtenção de matéria prima e a produção de biodiesel.

Soil compaction on no-tillage (NT) system is one of the main problems for sustainable grains production in clay soils. However, some Brassicas, such as crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst), may show tolerance to moderately-compacted soils. The objective of this study was evaluate the effect of cover crops and chiseling on the soil physical properties, grain yield and oil content of crambe. Five summer cover crops, pear millet (Pennisetum americanum), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), sunn hemp (Crotalaria spectabilis), and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and two soil management systems (chiseling and no-tillage) were evaluated for three years in Brazil. Chiseling soil management decreased soil bulk density and increased total porosity, but chiseling had short-term effects on soil physical properties (12 months). Cover crops showed no difference regarding the effects on soil physical properties. The traditional no-tillage system presented higher soil bulk density and lower total porosity, which did not affect crambe grain and oil yield. Crambe presented expected grain and oil yield regardless of the adopted management and cover crops.

Nowadays, the society is seeking renewable energy sources that will replace in a sustainable way, fossil fuels. A source of energy that has stood out with great energetic potential showing itself to be promising in the world is biodiesel. Among several alternatives, the crop, Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) stands out as an oilseed species plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This culture as a source of feedstock for biodiesel production was studied for its high yield of oil production, with about 38% of its grains. In order to get more information on the development of the crop in west of Parana, it is necessary to develop studies on the response of this crop to fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate the crambe response to doses of potassium (K) grown in Oxisol in west of Parana. The experimental design was of randomized blocks and the treatments consisted of doses of K (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1 of K2O), with four replicates. For the assessments, a week preceding the harvest, five plants were collected per plot to measure the morphological features and yield components: plant height, average number of racemes per plant, average length of racemes per plant, number of fruits per plant, and fruit number per raceme and productivity. The results indicate that the soil Oxisol of Toledo has good availability of K. Because of this, significant increments in K2O doses on morphological characteristics and yield components have not been verified. The K2O doses did not promote increments on crambe production components. Key words: Biodiesel, development, Crambe abyssinica Hochst, feedstock.

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. Ex R. E. Fries) is an oilseed with the potential for cultivation in Brazil as a source of renewable energy in areas with tropical conditions. Crambe oil contains erucic acid, giving it economic importance for use in the electricity sector. Crambe oil can be used in insulating fluids and in the manufacture of chemical products and biodiesel without competing with human food production. As it is a new crop in Brazil, the scientific literature on crambe is still scarce. This review discusses general aspects of agricultural production and the potential applications of crambe associated mainly with the manufacture of biodiesel. The topics discussed in this review include: (i) genetic improvement of crambe; (ii) agronomic practices of production, pests, diseases, harvesting, storage, and economic viability; (iii) industrial use of crambe oil as an electrical insulator and in biodiesel; (iv) detoxification of the co-product generated during oil extraction for use in animal feed and use of the co-product in the natural bioremediation of contaminants; and (v) the challenges of increasing crambe production. Crambe has a remarkable future as a source of renewable energy in Brazil. Strategies to boost its cultivation, such as the identification of improved varieties and optimization of production system logistics, marketing, and resource allocation, should be adopted.

The crambe is an oilseed plant of the Brassicaceae family, which has the potential to grow in the winter, in succession to soybean crop, and whose seeds have been used for extraction of oil for biofuel production. However, in areas with nematode infestation, special care is needed in the selection of the species to be used in crop succession. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the susceptibility of crambe to plant-parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne javanica and its interference in vegetative growth parameters: crop yield and seed oil content. Therefore, crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) seedlings were inoculated with a suspension containing 0, 1300, 2600 and 5200 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. javanica, in experiment 1 (January to March, 2012), and 0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 eggs and J2, in experiment 2 (May to July, 2012). The tomato plant was inoculated to assess the viability of the inoculum. The assessments were done at two different times: 60 days after inoculation, assessment of the nematode reproduction factor, plant height and fresh and dry mass of the aerial part, was done with four repetitions. At the end of the crop cycle, 90 days after inoculation, seed yield and oil content were assessed in the remaining four replications. When grown in a period of higher temperatures, the crambe showed susceptibility to root-knot nematodes, with a negative impact on plant yield. However, this did not occur when the plant was grown in a more favorable season. In both experiments, seed oil content was not affected by the presence of the nematode. Key words: Crambe abyssinica, oil, susceptibility, nematodes.

Within a framework of renewed interest in crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst ex R.E. Fries) sourcing raw materials for the bio-based industry, the adaptability and productive performances of this oil crop have been evaluated under contrasting Mediterranean environments (i.e., a fertile site in the northern part of Po valley vs. a semi-arid site of southern Sicily) during two consecutive growing seasons, aiming at its possible stable introduction in this area. The trial set in northern Italy compared three commercial varieties of crambe (Galactica, Nebula and Mario) in spring sowing, while in southern Italy only the var. Mario was tested with autumn sowing. Regardless of location and variety, thermal time for maturity was quite stable (1200–1400°C), and the crop provided satisfactory seed yields (grand mean 2.29Mghulledseedsha−1), with average oil content of ∼400gkg−1 (on dehulled seeds) and ∼52% of erucic acid. Significantly higher seed and oil yields were reached in northern than in southern Italy. Furthermore, crambe thermal use efficiency (THUE) was also higher in the north than in the south, possibly due to better environmental adaptability of the crop. The limited intraspecific variability within crambe was confirmed, with better productive performances showed by the domestic selection Mario. Promising traits were revealed in Nebula, showing greater seed weight, root length density and area, and thinner roots, although the root growth of crambe was generally modest compared with modern high erucic acid rapeseed hybrids. Available crambe varieties could be efficiently included in crop rotations across a wide range of environments within the Mediterranean basin. The short growth cycle represents an outstanding added value for this species, allowing the avoidance of prolonged drought and heat stress typical of late spring/early summer months under the Mediterranean climate. However, increased yields are needed to meet the market requests; nonetheless, the little genetic variability suggests that there is large scope for future breeding improvements, maybe exploiting advanced techniques to improve the existing genetic resources.

The consolidation of crambe crops in the agricultural and industrial scenarios comes up against the lack of recommendations and technical information on their cultivation. Thus, this study aims to analyze the effects of boron fertilization on a crambe crop cultivated in two oxisols. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse owned by the Agronomic Institute of Parana, in the city of Santa Tereza do Oeste - PR. The treatments were arranged in a 2×3 factorial scheme. Two oxisols with different textures (clayey and medium texture) were used, and three boron rates (0, 1, and 8 mg kg-1) were applied to the soil. A randomized complete block design with five replications was used. The experimental unit consisted of a vase containing 2.0 kg of soil with two crambe plants. Plant height, dry matter yield of roots, stems and fruit, number of fruit per plant, number of branches per plant, 100-seed weight and leaf boron content were assessed. Soil texture did not affect any variable. There was no significant interaction between the boron rates applied and soil texture. Plant heights, number of branches per plant and fruit dry matter were not influenced by the boron fertilizer. The number of fruit per plant as well as the dry matter yield of roots, stems and fruit was higher with the application of 1 mg B kg-1 of soil. The amount of boron in the leaves was proportional to the fertilizer rates applied. The application of 8 mg B kg-1 of soil caused toxicity symptoms on crambe leaves. Key words: Crambe abyssinica, fertilizing, nutrition of energy crops.

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hoschst) is a winter oilseed crop with yield potential of 1500 kg ha-1. It is indicated for crop rotation systems and tolerates moderate frost. However, crambe presents thermal and water limitations that influence sowing dates since it needs water at blooming and at least 200 mm rainfall until it reaches the flowering stage. This study aimed to assess the performance of a crambe crop in different sowing dates. The experiment was conducted on the experimental farm of Assis Gurgacz College (Faculdade Assis Gurgacz – FAG) Cascavel – Parana, at an altitude of 700 m, within latitudes 24°56’25.39” S and 24°56’45.39” S and longitudes 53°30'9.89" W and 53°31'17.01" W. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with three sowing dates (April, June and July) and five replications. Phenometric parameters such as plant height, dry mass, plants per meter, grain yield and mass of 1000 grains were assessed and data were subjected to Tukey’s test at 5% probability. Phenometric variables were influenced by sowing dates. Degree days and rainfall influenced the results. April has proven to be the best month for sowing. Key words: Winter oilseed crop, cycle, development, production, Crambe abyssinica Hoschst.

The aim of this study was to assess the decomposition rate of crambe straw under different soil management practices based on no-tillage system. The experiment was carried out at the experimental area of the Agronomic Institute of Parana - IAPAR, regional center of Santa Tereza do Oeste, Parana, Brazil. Treatments consisted of four soil management practices: Traditional No-tillage System - TNTS – Chisel Plowing Tillage System - CPTS – No-tillage System with Application of Gypsum - NTSG - and Quality No-tillage System - QNTS. The treatments were distributed in randomized order in parts subdivided on time with fifteen macro-plots of 20 m x 25 m. The assessments took place on 0 (zero), 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after crambe crop harvest. Decomposition was determined quantitatively through the analysis of the decomposition rate of crop residues using litter bags. Average loss of crambe phytomass was significantly different (p>0.05), mainly for CPTS and NTSG, around 0. 63% day-1 and 0. 71% day-1, respectively. The longest half-life period (66 days) was observed on QNTS with bristle oat and white lupin consortium, and the shortest half-life period (45 days) was observed on CPTS. Key words: Crambe abyssinica, litter bags, half-life period.

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is present in more than 150 municipalities in Brazil, and the long persistence of the cysts in the soil combined with the severe degree of parasitism induces high soybean production losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biofumigant effect of Crambe abyssinica on the SCN population in the second soybean crop season. The experiment was conducted on a rural property whose soil was naturally infested with SCN. Crambe abyssinica was planted in the second crop season following harvest, and in the subsequent crop season, 4 soybean varieties, 2 resistant and 2 susceptible to SCN, were planted. The nematode population was evaluated every month for 90 days after planting. In the second crop season, when C. abyssinica was in the field, there was a significant decrease in the number of adult SCN females and cysts. During the 90-day period after C. abyssinica cultivation, when plant residues were incorporated into the soil and the area was planted with soybeans, both the number of adult SCN females / 10 g roots and the number of cysts decreased. This result indicates that C. abyssinica reduced the nematode population during its time in the field. Key words: Crambe, Glycine max, soybean nematode cyst, culture control.

The crambe has emerged as an option for the production of biodiesel, constituting itself as an alternative for off-season grain in Brazil. To obtain the best performance in the post-harvest product processing, knowledge of physical characteristics of the grains to as well as of the design of machines and structure storage is necessary. After pre-cleaning, the crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) with a water content of 8% (wb) was placed into a silo prototype, provided a fan and plenum, and subjected to five airflow densities that were pre-determined in a total of four repetitions for each tested airflow. The static pressure was measured through the column in five layers. The results show that there is a significant effect of air flow on the static air pressure in the crambe column, which increased linearly with depth. The experimental data fitted with good accuracy the models of Hunter and Shedd, thus enabling their use for the crambe column as well. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the variation of static pressure along a column of grains of crambe that were subjected to five airflow densities and check the fit of this variation following mathematical models suggested by Sheed and Hunter. Key words: Crambe abyssinica, resistance to airflow, Sheed, Hunter.

The dependence on non-renewable fuels of countries around the world increased the interest for the gradual replacement of fossil fuels with renewable ones. Thus, several development programs for the use of renewable sources for power generation have been created and, in this perspective, biofuels have been highlighted. Crambe is an alternative crop for the production of biodiesel due to its rusticity, precocity, high oil content and adaptability to different climates. Optimum management practices of fertilizer use in crambe cultivation are little known and there are no specific recommendations for its fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this research was to study the effects of mineral fertilizers concerning the nitrogen and potassium elements in the growth and production of crambe. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse, with a completely randomized design. Nitrogen doses used were 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg·ha-1and 50, 75, 100 to 125 kg·ha-1 for potassium. The increase in production was directly proportional to the increase in nitrogen levels. The potassium doses did not cause significant effect on the growth of crambe.

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) is an oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae family. Crambe’s ability to survive in diverse environmental conditions, its unique oil composition, the high oil content, suitability for the production of slip agents for plasticizers, the capacity to be easily included in common crop rotations, and its adaptability to equipment used for small grain cultivation has renewed the interest in this emerging crop. Crambe is considered one of the main sources of erucic acid, which can be up to 60% of its seed oil content. Erucic acid (C22:1) is a fatty acid with industrial importance since it is used to produce erucamide, key ingredient in the plastic industry. Inclusion of crambe into crop rotations can be beneficial because of its short life cycle, low fertility requirements, resistance to pest and diseases, and relative drought tolerance. Currently high erucic acid rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) (HEAR) is the principal source for erucic acid. However, the risk of contaminating food quality rapeseed (i.e., canola) by cross-pollination and the negative impact on climate, due to high inputs, are potential limitations to expand HEAR cultivation. Crambe has thus great potential to, at least, partially replace HEAR as a source of erucic acid, if the current knowledge-gap in agronomic management and crop improvement (seed yield and quality) can be addressed. Seed yield needs to be increased to be able to compete with HEAR. In addition, reducing glucosinolates and fiber in crambe meal may increase its inclusion in monogastrics rations. The objective of this review was to compile and summarize new and existing information on agricultural practices in crambe production and management to identify gaps in knowledge and areas for future research to increase the cultivation of crambe.

Although the crambe is commercially exploited in Brazil, there is a demand for studies that allow the improvement of the techniques involved in its cultivation. Planting on residues of different species can provide greater vegetative and reproductive development. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the vegetative and reproductive development of crambe cultivated on residue of different species, in succession to the cultivation of lettuce. The experimental design was a randomized block design, with six treatments containing the following cover crops residues: crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), porcine bean (Canavalia ensiformis), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), besides a control treatment, with the use of spontaneous vegetation. At 49 days the vegetative development was evaluated by measuring plant height, stem diameter at the soil level, number of leaves, relative content of leaf chlorophyll, number of lateral branches, fresh and dry biomass of shoot. The productive variables were evaluated at 95 days after planting, obtaining the grain mass per plant, the hectoliter weight of the grains and estimating the productivity of each treatment, as well as its gross revenue. It was verified that the maintenance of residue of cover crops benefits the vegetative development of the crambe crop, without statistically altering grain yield. However, this technique results in an economic benefit, with the increase in gross revenue, being recommended during the fallow, to the detriment of the management of spontaneous plants. El cultivo de Crambe abyssinica, es explotado comercialmente en Brasil, así la importancia de desarrollar estudios que posibiliten el perfeccionamiento de las técnicas involucradas en su producción. La plantación sobre restos culturales de diferentes especies de cobertura puede aumentar el desarrollo vegetativo y productivo del crambe. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el desarrollo vegetativo y reproductivo del crambe cultivado sobre restos culturales de diferentes especies, en sucesión al cultivo de lechuga crespa. El delineamiento experimental utilizado fue en bloques al azar. Los tratamientos correspondieron a restos culturales de plantas de cobertura, siendo estas: crotalária (Crotalaria juncea), frijol guandu (Cajanus cajan), frijol de porco (Canavalia ensiformis), milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) y sorgo (Sorghum bicolor), además de un tratamiento control, con uso de vegetación espontánea. A los 49 días se evaluó altura de planta, diámetro de tallo, número de hojas, contenido relativo de clorofila, número de ramas laterales, masa seca y fresca de la parte aérea. Las variables productivas se evaluaron a los 95 días después de la siembra, obteniendo la masa de granos por planta, el peso hectolitro de los granos. Posteriormente fue estimada la productividad de cada tratamiento y el ingreso bruto. Se verificó que mantener los restos culturales de plantas de cobertura beneficia el desarrollo vegetativo de la cultura de crambe y no altera la productividad de los granos. Esta técnica aumenta el beneficio económico del cultivo, siendo recomendada durante el barbecho, en detrimento del manejo de plantas espontáneas.

Mechanized operations on soils with inadequate moisture cause compaction and are deleterious to soil quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different oilseed crop successions on the structural quality of a clayey Rhodic Hapludox. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), canola (Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst.), and niger (Guizotia abyssinica) were sown in autumn/winter in a no-tillage system in succession to corn grown in the summer and soybean/corn grown in summer/autumn-winter. When the autumn-winter crops began to grow, soil samples were collected in metallic cylinders at 0.0–0.05 m and 0.05–0.10 m depths. Analyses of the optimal water interval in each crop succession at the 0.0–0.05 m layer indicated that the corn/safflower and corn/crambe successions reduced the structural quality of the soil. The autumn-winter niger crop in succession to summer corn improved the soil structure at 0.0–0.05 m and 0.05–0.10 m when compared with the soil cultivated with the soybean/corn succession. The niger crop is an effective crop rotation alternative that improves the physical quality of the soil under no-tillage systems.

Salinity in soil or water in arid and semi arid regions can severely limit crop production, since the high amount of NaCl contributes to specific ion effects of Cl-, Na+ or both, and to antagonistic effects on nutrient elements. Affected by salt stress, most of the cultivated plants do not fully express their growth potential, which lowers their economic value. Crambe (Crambe abyssinica) is an oil plant of the cruciferous family and it is believed that crambe has great potential to figure as raw material for biofuel; however, literature is not abundant about the effects of salinity in crambe production. This work was carried out in order to evaluate the effects on the development and productivity of crambe irrigated with saline waters under greenhouse conditions. Treatments resulted from the combination of two factors: salinity of irrigation water (ECw) in five levels (1.03-control, 2.5, 4.0, 5.5, and 7.0 dS·m-1) and two types of salts (NaCl and NaCl + CaCl2) with three replications, totaling 30 experimental plots. At the end of the experimental period, soil samples from each plot were collected for chemical and salinity of soil saturation extract analyzes. Salt types did not affect plant parameters. However, the salinity levels presented significant effects on the all plant parameters, decreasing their values with the increase of the salt dose. Salinity levels of the solutions used for irrigation in this study affected the growth of plants and grain yield of crambe. Regarding the type of salts, a higher concentration of Na was observed for NaCl solutions at 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5 dS·m-1 salinity levels.

The influence of essential (Cu, Ni and Zn) and non-essential heavy metals (Hg, Cr, Pb and Cd) on seed germination and early seedling growth in industrial oil crop Crambe abyssinica was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Our results indicated that among the 7 heavy metals tested only Cu and Hg significantly (P < 0.01) decreased Crambe seed germination in a dose-dependent manner at higher concentrations while certain Cr concentrations significantly increased the seed germination (P < 0.05). All the 7 heavy metals decreased significantly relative root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). The heavy metals except Ni decreased relative root length first, then shoot length or fresh seedling weight, and finally seed germination. Ni seemed to influence the relative fresh seedling weight first, then shoot length, root length and finally seed germination at lower concentrations, but the decrease in relative root length became faster when the Ni concentrations were increased. Our results indicated that Crambe is tolerant or moderately tolerant to the heavy metals tested except Ni and can be improved for phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals.

Ten chemical additives were selected from the literature for their proposed modifying activity in protein-protein interactions. These consisted of acids, bases, reducing agents, and denaturants and were added to residual deoiled meals of Crambe abyssinica (crambe) and Brassica carinata (carinata) to modify the properties of plastics produced through hot compression molding at 130 °C. The films produced were examined for tensile properties, protein solubility, molecular weight distribution, and water absorption. Of the additives tested, NaOH had the greatest positive effect on tensile properties, with increases of 105% in maximum stress and 200% in strain at maximum stress for crambe and a 70% increase in strain at maximum stress for carinata. Stiffness was not increased by any of the applied additives. Changes in tensile strength and elongation for crambe and elongation for carinata were related to changes in protein solubility. Increased pH was the most successful in improving the protein aggregation and mechanical properties within the complex chemistry of residual oilseed meals.

O uso de fontes alternativas para a fertilização na agricultura vem sendo cada vez mais explorada pelo homem, devido à escassez das fontes finitas dos minerais utilizados atualmente. Produtos como a torta de mamona e silicatos de serpentinito podem ser fontes viáveis para o uso na agricultura. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores e conteúdos de N, P, K, Ca e Mg na cultura do crambe, assim como a sua produção em função da adubação com torta de mamona PDS e silicato de serpentinito. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com sete doses de torta de mamona PDS e duas doses de silicato de serpentinito (com e sem enxofre elementar), totalizando 21 tratamentos. Utilizaram-se as doses de 0,0; 0,5; 1; 2; 4; 6 e 8t ha-1 de torta de mamona PDS (equivalente à aplicação de 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 e 240kg ha-1 de N) e as doses de silicato de serpentinito em 0 e 1t ha-1, com e sem enxofre. A aplicação de silicato de serpentinito sem enxofre aumentou os teores e conteúdos de nutrientes de N, P, K, Ca e Mg do crambe e a produção de sementes. O uso de torta de mamona PDS como fertilizante orgânico favoreceu o crescimento e desenvolvimento do crambe. A dose de 8t ha-1 de torta de mamona PDS foi a mais indicada para a fertilização da cultura do crambe. The use of alternative sources for fertilization in agriculture is being increasingly exploited by man because of the shortage of the finite sources of minerals used today. Products such as cake castor bean and serpentinite silicate, may be viable sources for use in agriculture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the contents and accumulation of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the culture of crambe, as well as their production in line with fertilization cake castor bean PDS and silicate serpentinite. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with seven doses of cake castor bean PDS and two doses of serpentinite silicate (with and without elemental sulfur), totaling 21 treatments. We used doses of 0.0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8t ha-1 of cake castor bean PDS (equivalent to the application of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240kg ha-1 of N) and the doses of serpentinite silicate 0 and 1t ha-1 for with and without sulfur. The application of serpentinite silicate without sulfur increased the content and nutrient content of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and crambe seed production. The use of cake castor bean PDS as organic fertilizer increased the growth and development of crambe. A dose of 8t ha-1 of castor bean PDS was the most suitable for the fertilization of the crop crambe.

We aimed with this study to evaluate the potential of oilseed crops planted following soybean, in terms of their ability to inhibit the occurrence of weed species under Brazilian Savannah cropping systems. The long-term experiment was installed in 2010 at Dourados, MS, Brazil, and in completely randomized blocks design with five replications with 12 × 24 m plot size. For three consecutive years (2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13), soybeans were planted in all the area by October/November being harvested in February/March, when previously marked plots were planted in April with: (1) radish (Raphanus sativus); (2) rapeseed (Brassica napus); (3) crambe (Crambe abyssinica); (4) winter fallow-no plantation after soybeans. In all years the same crop was repeated at the same plots, with no crop rotation. Phytosociological characterization of weed species was carried out in winter (after oilseeds harvest), pre-planting and post-emergence of soybean for the three years. Relative abundance, frequency and dominance, as well as the importance value for each species, was obtained. Areas were also intra-characterized by the coefficients of Simpson, Shannon-Weiner and Shannon-Weiner’s Evenness Proportion, and areas were compared for species dissimilarity with Jaccard’s presence-only coefficient, by multivariate cluster analysis. Oilseed crops definitely contribute for sustainable weed management as a cultural tool. The most important oilseed crop weeds in the Savannah-like region of Brazil were Amaranthus hybridus, Richardia brasiliensis, Lepidium virginicum, Leonotis nepetifolia and Hybanthus parviflorus. After three years of repetitive crop succession, some weeds were selected, and rotation in Winter is advised at least every two or three years.

Industrial oilseeds have a great potential in the northern Great Plains both as oilseeds and as cover crops sown following wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvest and before soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] sowing in the following spring. One of the most important biotic stresses in soybean production is soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, SCN), a serious pest that affects 90% of the soybean producing areas in the U.S. The objective of this study was to evaluate the host status of and the SCN population reduction by, winter camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz, cv. Joelle], crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. Ex R.E.Fr., cv. BelAnn), and brown mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Kodiak). The experiments were performed in a growth chamber at 27°C for 35 days by planting the crops in soil naturally infested with SCN and autoclaved sandy soil artificially inoculated with two SCN populations from two fields in North Dakota. Soybean cyst nematode did not reproduce on brown mustard or camelina with a female index (FI) of 0, suggesting these are non-hosts, while it reproduced on crambe. The numbers of white females on crambe ranged from 1 to 13 per plant with FI of 0.2 to 1.1 in naturally infested soils, and 1 to 4 per plant with FI of 1.2 to 2.5 in artificially infested soils, thus crambe would be classified as a poor-host (FI

Field and controlled environment studies were undertaken to define the range and extent of available host resistances to Pseudocercosporella capsellae (white leaf spot) across diverse oilseed, forage and vegetable crucifers, including some wild and/or weedy species, and also within and/or derived from Brassica carinata. In each experiment, there was a wide range in host response from high resistance to high susceptibility as assessed by four disease parameters, viz. in the field for: (i) Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) for percent leaves diseased with values ranging from 0 to 375.5; (ii) Percent Leaf Collapse Index (%LCI) for leaf collapse due to disease with values ranging from 0 to 23.0; and (iii), Percent Pod Area Disease Index (%PADI) for pod area affected with values ranging from 0 to 52.1; and (iv) under controlled environmental conditions for Percent Cotyledon Disease Index (%CDI) for cotyledon lesion size with values ranging from 0 to 27.5. At the Crawley field site, B. carinata ATC 94129 was the most resistant genotype with AUDPC = 1.2, followed by Crambe abyssinica (AUDPC 8.7), Eruca sativa Eruc-01 (AUDPC 19.3) and E. vesicaria Yellow rocket (AUDPC 19.4). B. carinata ATC 94129 and B. oleracea var. capitata had the least leaf collapse, with %LCI = 0.2. At the Shenton Park field site, 21 genotypes of B. carinata and B. oleracea var. acephala Tuscan kale showed total resistance, all with AUDPC values of 0. Of the B. napus genotypes carrying one or more B. carinata B genome introgressions, genotypes NC8 (AUDPC 23.0) and NC9-1 (AUDPC 26.2) were the most resistant. Genotypes as assessed on these disease criteria as having high level resistance generally showed no pod infection; in contrast to %PADI values up to 52 on the most susceptible genotypes. Under controlled environmental conditions, the most resistant genotype was B. carinata ATC 94129 with %CDI values of 0 and 0.2, respectively, across two experiments, along with B. napus genotypes Zhongyou 821 and Hyola 42, with a %CDI value of 0 in one of the two experiments. There was a high degree of correlation both within individual experiments across the different disease parameters and also between field and controlled environment experiments. Within both B. napus and B. juncea genotypes tested, the most resistant genotypes were from China, the most susceptible from India, with those from Australia intermediate.

The selection of species that accumulate oil with potential for biofuel production has favored advancements in the scientific and technological domains within the Brazilian biofuel program. The equipments and methods used for such selection have always prosecuted the objective of increasing oil extraction. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the yield of oil extracted from five vegetable species – castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), physic nut (Jatropha curcas), soybean (Glycine max), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and crambe (Crambe abyssinica) with two different moisture contents and using two different solvents, hexane and ethanol. The experimental design was factorial (5 × 2 × 2), in which grains of each of the five vegetable species in two different moisture contents were used for oil extraction. It can be concluded from this study that grain moisture content and solvent type had great influence in determining oil yield; and that hexane extraction was most efficient. J. curcas had the greatest increase of oil yield with 30.70% when performing extraction with grain moisture. The smallest differences between the solvents were found in the species R. communis with 12% of higher efficiency with hexane extraction. Key words: Biodiesel, ethanol, hexane, oil extraction yield.

Crambe is an important biofuel crop and its oil has unique traits such as high erucic acid content which can be used as industrial lubricant, corrosion inhibitor as well as ingredient in synthetic rubber manufacturing. Genetic diversity among 70 progenies of Crambe abyssinica Hochst selected from a population of FMS Brilhante cultivar was quantified by multivariate analysis for traits related to germination, thousand grain weight and oil content. There were significant differences among progenies for all traits studied. Estimation of genetic variance and heritability coefficients showed that the variability found in the progeny is more genetic than environmental which enables genetic gains with selection. Heritability coefficient varied from 68 to 79%, except for oil content and number of dead seedlings. Simple correlation analysis showed that germination and vigor were positively correlated, and thousand grain weight and oil content were not correlated with any of the seed traits. Based on multivariate analysis, the progenies could be grouped into 26 clusters. Clusters 1, 2 and 3 had the highest number of progeny with 7, 8 and 6 lineages, respectively. Clusters 21–26 had higher dissimilarity within the cluster with one in each progeny. The trait that most contributed to the cluster was the germination (36.2%) and less contributed was the number of seedlings killed (1.1%). The progenies indicate genetic diversity for seed traits and the selection of superior progenies is possible considering the studied traits.

The interest in crambe (Crambe abyssinica ) cultivation in Brazil is on the rise, whereas information on the nutrient requirements for this crop is scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P2O5-K2O formula 8:28:16) fertilization (0, 150, and 300 kg ha-1) on crambe shoot biomass production, grain and oil yields, and nutrient extraction and exportation in the second growing season after soybean. The experiment with a Haplorthox (Dystroferric Red Latosol) was carried out for two years in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized complete block design with eight replications was used. Fertilization with NPK at sowing increased the shoot biomass production, grain yield, grain oil content, as well as nutrient extraction and exportation at harvest. In the fertilized treatments, the average amounts of nutrients extracted per hectare were 91 kg K, 71 kg N, 52 kg Ca, 9.4 kg P, 9.4 kg Mg, 7.9 kg S, 2,348 g Fe, 289 g Zn, 135 g Mn, and 18.2 g Cu; while the average values of nutrient exportation per hectare were 54 kg N, 20 kg K, 12.3 kg Ca, 10 kg P, 6.6 kg S, 3.2 kg Mg, 365 g Zn, 60 g Fe, 50 g Mn, and 7.3 g Cu, with NPK fertilizer application. Tem aumentado o interesse pelo cultivo do cambre (Crambe abyssinica) no Brasil; porém, são escassas as informações sobre as necessidades de nutrientes por essa cultura. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito da adubação NPK (0, 150 e 300 kg ha-1 da fórmula N-P2O5-K2O 8-28-16) na produção de matéria seca, produtividade de grãos e de óleo, extração e exportação de nutrientes pela cultura do crambe cultivada na safrinha, em sucessão à soja. O experimento foi realizado durante dois anos num Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, no município de Botucatu, SP. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados, com oito repetições. A adubação NPK na semeadura aumentou a produção de matéria seca, a produtividade de grãos, o teor de óleo nos grãos, a extração e a exportação de nutrientes pela cultura do crambe. As quantidades médias de nutrientes extraídas por hectare nos tratamentos adubados foram de 91 kg de K, 71 kg de N, 52 kg de Ca, 9,4 kg de P, 9,4 kg de Mg, 7,9 kg de S, 2348 g de Fe, 289 g de Zn, 135 g de Mn e 18,2 g de Cu. Já a exportação foi em média de 54 kg de N, 20 kg de K, 12,3 kg de Ca, 10 kg de P, 6,6 kg de S, 3,2 kg de Mg, 365 g de Zn, 60 g de Fe, 50 g de Mn e 7,3 g de Cu, quando se utilizou adubação NPK.

O crambe (Crambe abyssinica) tem bom potencial para produção de biodiesel pelo seu teor de óleo, além de ser uma alternativa para a rotação de culturas. Contudo, são escassas as informações sobre a demanda de nutrientes pelo crambe. O trabalho objetivou determinar a produção de matéria seca e o acúmulo de macronutrientes na parte aérea das plantas de crambe, em diferentes estágios de crescimento e desenvolvimento. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições. Foram coletadas amostras da parte aérea das plantas aos 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 e 84 dias após a emergência (DAE). Para cada coleta, as plantas foram dividas em folha (limbo e pecíolo), caule + ramos e frutos (cápsulas) e as amostras foram secas até peso constante para posterior determinação da matéria seca e teores de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S. As folhas apresentam grande contribuição na produção de matéria seca nas fases iniciais de desenvolvimento das plantas. A partir do florescimento, a queda das folhas é acentuada e a contribuição dos caules+ramos é maior. Foi observada a seguinte demanda pelos nutrientes na parte aérea: N>Ca>P>S>K>Mg. Quanto às quantidades exportadas via colheita de grãos, seguiu-se a ordem: N>P>S>Mg>Ca>K. A produção de matéria seca da parte aérea das plantas e dos frutos é baixa. No entanto, em função do ciclo curto e da rápida transição entre as fases de florescimento e maturação dos frutos, a adubação de semeadura é fundamental para obtenção de rendimentos satisfatórios.

Salinity is one of the major factors limiting agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Saline areas around the world are increasing and sources of fresh water are decreasing. The increasing importance of the use of brackish water to supplement regular irrigation has demonstrated a need for finding new potential plants with tolerance to irrigation with saline water which can be used in industrial agriculture. The aim of this study was to determine whether irrigation with brackish water of Crambe Abyssinica, a plant commonly used for industrial oil production and for ornamental purposes and with high economical value, especially in Central Asia and the Aral Sea region, is feasible. One more goal was to study how it influences growth and development, seed and oil yield and some physiological parameters such as photosynthesis, transpiration, chlorophyll content, osmotic potential and accumulation of fresh and dry weight. The effects of three salinity levels, 3, 6 and 9 dS m−1, were investigated in a greenhouse experiment during two consecutive years. Results of this study showed that growth of Crambe abyssinica in arid zones and irrigation with mild saline water up to EC 6 dS m−1, mostly common in these areas is feasible, suggesting tolerance to moderate salinity levels and feasibility of its culture in areas of the Aral Sea with adequate salinity levels. Consequently, in spite of the fact that biomass and seed yield were significantly decreased in plants irrigated with brackish water, Crambe abyssinica might be cultivated as an alternate source of green biomass and for industrial vegetable oil under conditions not suitable for conventional plant production.