A new study has found genetic variability in camelina that could boost production, Biofuels Digest wrote.
Published in Horticulture Research, the study led by Jordan R Brock, from the Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, USA, focused on sub-genome structure and expression patterns, the 10 September report said.
Although camelina has been gaining attention in China as a biofuel feedstock, its genetic foundation is under-explored and its relatively low genetic diversity has held back breeding programmes aimed at improving yields and its stress tolerance, according to the report.
By analysing a comprehensive diversity panel, the researchers studied the degree of sub-genome dominance and genetic variability across camelina populations.
Using PacBio HiFi sequencing, the study identified three distinct sub-genomes.
The findings, based on the new high-quality Suneson genome, would provide information for breeding programmes aimed at boosting the oilseed’s use in biofuel production and agriculture, the report said.
“Understanding the genetic diversity and sub-genome expression dynamics in camelia is a game-changer for future breeding efforts,” Dr Patrick Edger, a co-author of the study, was quoted as saying in a 10 September Newswise report.
“By identifying the specific sub-genome contributions to key traits such as yield and stress tolerance, we can now develop more targeted breeding strategies that enhance crop performance. These insights, combined with the high-quality genome we’ve produced, offer invaluable resources for improving Camelina as a biofuel and agricultural crop.”
In the study, the researchers found that despite the overall low genetic diversity, there were 13 distinct sub-populations, including two wild populations.
The SG3 subgenome, which is associated with the C. hispida progenitor, showed lower genetic diversity but was more dominant in flower, flower bud and fruit tissues, which are critical for the crop’s yield.
The study also highlighted the presence of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in SG3, suggesting its potential role in regulating stress tolerance.
The discovery that sub-genome dominance was tissue-dependent also had important implications for breeding strategies, particularly in targeting floral and fruit tissues for enhanced yields, the Biofuels Digest report said.