Publication of Rapeseed Genome Assemblies Could Inform Breeding of Better-Performing, More Sustainable Varieties

NESS ZIONA, Israel & SAN DIEGO & SASKATOON, Saskatchewan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A consortium of key academic and global seed company leaders from the USA, Canada, Europe, and Israel are announcing the completion of multiple rapeseed/canola reference genomes. These genomes are necessary to enhance the quality and yield of this important oil crop.

The rapeseed consortium is led by Dr. Isobel Parkin from Agriculture & Agrifood Canada (AAFC) and Dr. Andrew Sharpe from the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

This project reached a key milestone in completing the full assembly and mapping the genomes of 10 diverse varieties, cultivated in the USA, Canada, and Europe. The genome assembly and complete genome mapping was done using NRGene’s DeNovoMAGIC technology.

Rapeseed (‘canola’ type) is a major vegetable oil crop farmed on approximately 35 million acres around the world. Rapeseed oil is considered a high-quality vegetable oil and is commonly used in food production and diverse industrial applications, including biofuel. Increasing the productivity of the plant will expand the use of rapeseed oil for a range of applications, replacing lower quality vegetable oils and diesel fuels.

“Having top quality genomes of rapeseed/canola is crucial for identifying the genes responsible for key commercial traits,” says Dr. Isobel Parkin, AAFC. “This will be a foundational resource for basic research that’s required to increase yield and nutritional values of rapeseed/canola.”

In the upcoming weeks, the project will also include the comparative mapping of the full-genome sequences into a pangenome. Subsequently, the genomes of other varieties will be incorporated to reveal the broad genetic diversity of rapeseed/canola that is grown around the world. This work will be done using NRGene’s GenoMAGIC big-data toolkit, that is already in use commercially for other key crops such as maize, soybean, cotton, tomato, and wheat.

“This was truly a combined effort, made possible with the support and contributions from various parties,” said Dr. Andrew Sharpe, GIFS. “The results will advance breeding for rapeseed and canola, benefiting research, industry, producers, and consumers. This progress also has immense economic value for Canada, which is the one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of canola.”

“The broad genomic database we produced provides the fundamental infrastructure needed by every breeding program,” said Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO of NRGene. “Sharing funding resources between multiple commercial and academic entities enables us to build the largest global database of rapeseed/canola to be shared among consortium members and revealing strategic paths in the breeding of elite seeds.”

About GIFS

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) works with diverse partners to discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food. A catalyst for innovation, GIFS offers a solution-oriented approach to research and development. The institute was established in 2012 as a public-private partnership by three founding partners— Nutrien, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan.

About AAFC

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) supports the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through initiatives that promote innovation and competitiveness.

About NRGene

NRGene is a genomics company that provides turn-key solutions to leading breeding companies. Using advanced algorithmics & extensive proprietary databases, we empower breeders to reach their full potential by achieving stronger and more productive yields in record time. NRGene’s tools have already been implemented by some of the leading agribiotech companies worldwide, as well as the most influential research teams in academia. NRGene is headquartered in Ness Ziona, Israel with an office in San Diego. For more information, please visit www.nrgene.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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