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Research Theme 4: Biofuel Crops

This theme involves utilizing the extensive molecular tools and genomic information to develop Brassica crops as feedstocks for biofuel (biodiesel) production. Three projects from this theme will focus on screening of Brassica spp. germplasm for high seed-oil content; manipulating seed-oil content of Brassica and Arabidopsis; and assessing how modification of Brassica germplasm for seed-oil content affects important "ancillary" feedstock characteristics such as C partitioning, NUE, and rhizospheric N2O production.

Theme Leaders

Dr. Kevin Vessey (Saint Mary’s University)
kevin.vessey@smu.ca
External webpage

Project 4a: Identification of Brassica genotypes and molecular markers for increased seed-oil content.

Project Co-Leader:
Dr. Peter McVetty (University of Manitoba)
mcvetty@cc.umanitoba.ca
External webpage

Co-Applicants:
Dr. Genyi Li (Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences)
g_li@umanitoba.ca
External webpage

Dr. Gerhard Rakow (Agriculture and Agrifood Canada)
rakowg@agr.gc.ca
External webpage

Dr. Muhammed Tahir (University of Manitoba)
tahir@cc.umanitoba.ca
External webpage

Project 4b: Investigation of the contribution of oil biosynthetic enzymes to seed oil content in B. napus and A. thaliana.

Project Leader:
Dr. Ljerka Kunst (University of British Columbia)
kunst@interchange.ubc.ca
External webpage

Co-Applicants:
Dr. George Haughn (University of British Columbia)
haughn@interchange.ubc.ca
External webpage

Dr. David C. Taylor (National Research Council Canada)
david.taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
External webpage

Project 4c: The bilateral influence of plant and rhizosphere characteristics in Brassica sp. varying in seed oil productivity.

Dr. Kevin Vessey (Saint Mary’s University)
kevin.vessey@smu.ca
External webpage

Dr. David L. Burton (Nova Scotia Agriculture University)
dburton@nsac.ca
External webpage

Co-Applicant:
Dr. Robert Bradley (Université de Sherbrooke)
Robert.Bradley@USherbrooke.ca
External webpage