Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308297

Title: Collecting field pennycress germplasm in Colorado and characterization of oil and root variation

Author
item Cruz, von Mark
item Isbell, Terry
item Dierig, David

Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2014
Publication Date: 9/13/2014
Citation: Cruz, V.V., Isbell, T., Dierig, D.A. 2014. Collecting field pennycress germplasm in Colorado and characterization of oil and root variation [abstract]. Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference, Sept. 13-19, 2014. Athens, Greece.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) has been identified as a possible source of biodiesel that may perform better in colder climates than other biodiesel fuels. A germplasm collection of the species is being maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in research, education, and crop improvement activities. We report the collection of additional germplasm materials from nine counties in Colorado spanning the front range, south central, and southwest regions of the state to expand the national inventory. A total of 31 wild populations were sampled and the seeds characterized for oil and fatty acid profile. Plants from 10 selected populations were also evaluated for seedling root traits in the laboratory by germinating seeds in growth pouches as part of a tiered-screening system to characterize roots of germplasm collections. The wild populations of field pennycress in Colorado were found at elevations ranging from 1,530 to 2,865 masl, located on roadsides and near hiking trails on natural conservation areas and open spaces. The mean 100-seed weight on the collected germplasm was 0.1g and the seed oil content ranged from 14.07 to 33.38% with an average of 29.68%. Analysis of trait correlations indicated that the amount of oleic acid (C18:1) had a weak negative correlation with elevation and a weak positive correlation with the average highest temperature (Tmax) during pod maturity. The amounts of the different fatty acids vary significantly among collection sites, except for eicosenoic acid (C20:1). Four samples were found to have high levels of erucic acid (C22:1) which may be of value to industrial crop breeding activities. Characterization of root system architecture showed that 16 day old seedlings reach a mean total root length of 7.30cm with main roots having an average length of 5.56cm. There was no significant difference in total root size among the collected accessions and no significant clinal variation found on the nine root traits considered. An average of six lateral roots per main root was observed and the number of laterals was found to have strong positive correlation with 100-seed weight.