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New pre-breeding tools for canola – facilitating canola improvement by accessing diploid variation

Posted on 24.09.2024 | Last Modified 24.09.2024
Lead Researcher (PI): Steve Robinson
Institution: Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Total WGRF Funding: $80,000
Co-Funders: Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission
Start Date: 2024
Project Length: 4 Years
Objectives:

This project will utilize bridging species for both the A- and C-genomes facilitating the direct introduction of valuable alleles from diploid Brassica species into the amphidiploid B. napus gene pool. Main objectives include: 1) Access new allelic variation from diploid Brassica species; 2) Eliminate reproductive barriers impeding hybridization between B. rapa and B. oleracea; 3) Generate synthetic B. napus and optimized bridging lines for canola improvement. This project proposes to improve hybridization success between B. napus and B. oleracea, by inactivating genes that contribute to post-fertilization barriers creating another method to increase diversity.