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Title: REGISTRATION OF THREE LESQUERELLA GERMPLASM LINES SELECTED FOR IMPROVED OILTRAITS

Author
item Dierig, David
item THOMPSON, ANSON - COLLABORATOR
item Coffelt, Terry

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The United States must now rely on imported castor oil as a source of hydroxy fatty acids. Lesquerella fendleri (Gray)Wats. is being investigated as a domestic source of hydroxy fatty acid oil in the formulation of lubricants, plastics, cosmetics, and many other industrial uses. The plant grows natively in the U.S., is adapted to arid regions, and has potential to be successfully developed into an alternative crop for American farmers Plant improvements are necessary to be successfully grown in cultivation. Three new germplasm lines were developed that exhibited, respectively, higher oil content, higher hydroxy fatty acid content in the oil, and seed with a higher content of both oil and hydroxy fatty acid, compared to unimproved seed. This is the first publicly released material of lesquerella. These new lines should offer public and private researchers improved germplasm with high genetic diversity for future improvements.

Technical Abstract: Lesquerella fendleri (Gray)Wats. is being investigated as a domestic source of hydroxy fatty acid oil in the formulation of lubricants, plastics, cosmetics, and many other industrial uses. The United States must now rely on imported castor oil as a source of hydroxy fatty acids. Lesquerella grows natively in the U.S., is adapted to arid regions, and has potential to be successfully developed into an alternative crop for American farmers. Plant improvements are necessary to be successfully grown in cultivation. Three new germplasm lines, WCL-L01, WCL-LH1, and WCL-LY1 were developed for improvements in the seed-oil. Seed of WCL-L01 has higher oil content, WCL-LH1 has higher hydroxy fatty acid content in the oil, and seed of WCL-LY1 has a higher content of both oil and hydroxy fatty acid, compared to unimproved seed. This is the first publicly released material of lesquerella. These new lines should offer public and private researchers improved germplasm with high genetic diversity for future improvements.