Germplasm improvement to develop commercially viable lines of the new oilseed crop lesquerella

Abstract

Lesquerella (Physaria fendleri) is a new oilseed crop that is being domesticated as an alternative crop for arid regions in the United States. As a member of the Brassica family, the species exhibits a high seed-oil content that can provide a source of hydroxy fatty acids for industrial use as source of bioenergy and by-products that can be utilized in livestock production. Germplasm evaluation and breeding activities on the crop have been done by the University of Arizona and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lesquerella and other Physaria and Paysonia species have a substantial germplasm collection that is well characterized for phenotypic traits and oil profiles. There are several improved germplasm released by the USDA with higher oil content and seed yield, enhanced oil profile, abiotic stress tolerance, and harvest index which can be directly utilized for commercial production or used for crop improvement. Additional technologies that can aid breeding, such as molecular marker systems and genetic transformation systems, have been established. A few challenges remain to be surmounted for the crop to be commercialized. A continued concerted effort by public and private institutions may hasten the process of bringing this new crop to commercial production.