Project Number: 5356-21610-001-14
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 01, 2012
End Date: Aug 16, 2016

Objective:
Determine how varying production environments affect the relative performance of B. carinata.

Approach:
To establish a basic understanding of the yield performance of Brassica carinata relative to other oilseed crops across diverse environments, four genotypes of B. carinata provided by Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. (Agrisoma), will be compared to two genotypes each of B. napus, B. rapa, B. juncea, and C. sativa, in a series of small plot experiments at ARS locations in Ames, IA, Morris, MN, Mandan, ND, Akron, CO, Sydney, MT, Maricopa, AZ, Moscow, ID, Pendleton, OR, and Parlier, CA, representing a diversity of growing environments. All of these oilseeds will be grown in four replicated plots (~6m x 4.5m wide) at each location listed, for a total of 40 plots for each location’s experimental planting. To shed light on the physiological basis for a Brassica carinata’s anticipated yield advantages over other oilseeds in most locations (in response to differing environments), detailed descriptions of agronomically important phenotypes will be performed, many determined by HTP methods. Phenotypes associated with a genotype’s ability to respond successfully to drought stress (e.g., crop height, leaf area index, plant canopy reflectance, and canopy temperature) will be measured once per week using hand-held instruments. We will also measure the isotopic signature of carbon in grain to indicate the degree of water stress under grain filling.