Development of Omega-9 Canola (Brassica napus) Resistant to Clubroot (Plasmodiophora sp.).

Dow AgroSciences (DAS) is the industry leader in the development of modified fatty acid profiles in canola (Brassica napus).  Over the past 15 years, DAS has focused on developing competitive Nexera^TM seed brand canola varieties for North America.  Nexera^TM seed varieties produce a healthy naturally stable high oleic acid, low linolenic acid oil that DAS has branded as Omega-9 canola oil.  Canola production in Western Canada is affected by a number of key diseases and insect pests.  One of the emerging diseases of canola in North America is clubroot caused by the organism Plasmodiophora sp.  This disease is being identified with increasing frequency in Alberta which could threaten canola production in that province.  Several putative source of resistance to clubroot are found in the literature but none of these sources contain an Omega-9 fatty acid profile.  We have used classical and marker-assisted breeding techniques to rapidly integrate clubroot resistance into our Omega-9 canola breeding program.

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