Agronomic performance and the effect of genotype-by-environment interaction for Brassica carinata in the southeastern US

Authors: Campbell, Benjamin - Todd; SEEPAUL, R - University Of Florida; Anderson, William - Bill; BALDWIN, BRIAN - Mississippi State University; BENNETT, RICK - Nuseed; CROZIER, CARL - North Carolina State University; GEORGE, SHEEJA - University Of Florida; HAGAN, AUSTIN - Auburn University; IBOYI, JOSEPH - University Of Florida; LEE, DEWEY - University Of Georgia; MACOON, BISOONDAT - National Institute Of Food And Agriculture (NIFA); MALIHOT, DANIEL - University Of Georgia; MORRISON, JESSE - Mississippi State University; MULVANEY, MICHAEL - Mississippi State University; POST, ANGELA - North Carolina State University; SMALL, IAN - University Of Florida; WRIGHT, DAVID - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2023
Publication Date: 7/29/2023
Citation: Campbell, B.T., Seepaul, R., Anderson, W.F., Baldwin, B.S., Bennett, R., Crozier, C.R., George, S., Hagan, A.K., Iboyi, J.E., Lee, D., Macoon, B., Malihot, D., Morrison, J.I., Mulvaney, M.J., Post, A., Small, I.M., Wright, D.L. 2023. Agronomic performance and the effect of genotype-by-environment interaction for Brassica carinata in the southeastern US. Industrial Crops and Products. 203. Article 117196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117196.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117196

Interpretive Summary: Carinata is an emerging oilseed crop with potential as a dual use winter cover/cash crop in the southeastern US region. Although carinata is historically cultivated as a spring crop in northern latitudes, incorporating carinata into southeastern US cropping systems can provide winter/cover ecosystem services and a bio-feedstock for a high value, renewable aviation fuel without displacing feed and food crops. In this study, our major objective was to determine the potential of producing economically viable yields of winter carinata across the southeastern US. Extensive field evaluations of twelve, elite carinata genotypes were conducted from 2016-2019 across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Results demonstrated the ability to produce viable grain yields across the region, but also highlighted the impact of freezing temperatures on winter production. In total 20% of all environments were lost to mortality due to freezing temperatures. Genotypes responded differently across the region for agronomic performance and changed in rank relative to one another for the number of days to 50% bolting and 50% flowering. Results suggest the southeastern US should be separated into three primary regions for future seed product development, testing, and placement.

Technical Abstract: Carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is an emerging oilseed crop with potential as a dual use winter cover/cash crop in the southeastern US region. Although carinata is historically cultivated as a spring crop in northern latitudes, incorporating carinata into southeastern US cropping systems can provide winter/cover ecosystem services and a bio-feedstock for a high value, renewable aviation fuel without displacing feed and food crops. In this study, our major objective was to determine the potential of producing economically viable yields of winter carinata across the southeastern US. Extensive field evaluations of twelve, elite carinata genotypes were conducted from 2016-2019 across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Results demonstrated the ability to produce viable grain yields across the region, but also highlighted the impact of freezing temperatures on winter production. In total 20% of all environments were lost to mortality due to freezing temperatures. Overall, genotype 15 produced the highest grain yield across individual environments, topping the trial in 74% of all environments. However, both crossover and non-crossover genotype × environment interactions were detected for agronomic traits, with problematic crossover interactions more prevalent for days to 50% bolting and days to 50% flowering. Our results also suggest the southeastern US be separated into three mega environments to include 1) northern Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, 2) southern and central Georgia and Alabama, and 3) northern Florida. Future efforts to identify advanced breeding lines and/or commercial seed products with adaptation to the region should consider field testing in each of these mega environments.