Designing Oilseeds For Tomorrow's Markets
This project is focused on Brassica (canola and related species) seed quality and is led by Dr. Randy Weselake at the University of Alberta and co-led by Dr. Wilf Keller at the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon. Brassica crops generate >$2.5B in annual economic activity and we anticipate significant economic and social benefits from this investment. The project's major research objectives include:
a) modification of seed traits to reduce anti-nutrients such as sinapine and improvement of nutritional factors such as carotenoids
b) examination of the transcriptome of the seed coat and the endosperm of Brassica and its role in seed quality; and
c) deciphering regulatory networks governing the partitioning of carbon between the seed coat and other seed components.
Research has involved an international collaboration with German institutions and companies and is being conducted in partnership with Genome Prairie, for a projected total value of $14.8M.