It has been 17 years of patience, persistence and more than just a little expense. Viterra is hoping their commitment to developing a new canola species pays off with the world wide launch of Brassica juncea canola, known commercially as XCEED™.
Unlike Polish and Argentina canola (Brassica rapa and Brassica napus), which are cultivars of rapeseed, XCEED is a cultivar of mustard. Viterra’s research team at Innovation Place in Saskatoon was able to breed a reduced erucic acid, reduced glucosinolate content and change in the fatty acid profile of mustard to develop a new canola crop.
Canola is defined by its oil profile, which must have less than two percent erucic acid. So while the oil in the new plant is defined as canola, the growing traits of Brassica juncea canola are like mustard, enabling it to grow in drier, hotter areas than other canola.
“Because XCEED is derived from mustard, it will expand boundaries of where canola can be grown, which will help meet the demand for this very healthy oil,” says Daryl Males, Manager of Crop Research for Viterra.
Males credits Dr. Derek Potts, Senior Plant Breeder with Viterra for his many years of persistence in the development of this new crop.
“This shows that we have a world leading research program right here in Saskatoon,” Males says, “and it demonstrates that Canada continues to lead the way in canola development.”
Viterra had several partners in the development of XCEED including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada which originated the juncea canola concept and BASF Canada which co-developed the non-gmo herbicide tolerant trait in the new canola species. Viterra also partnered with the Australian government, which has the only other large canola-quality juncea breeding program in the world. Viterra provided the Australians with the doubled haploid technology and the genes for lowering glucosinolates and improving the fatty acid profile.
“We have benefited from the infrastructure here,” says Males. “With the University of Saskatchewan collaborations, the Ag Canada collaborations, BASF right next door, the greenhouse facilities and the lab space all right here, it’s just been great.”
While farmers in Canada, the United States and Australia prepare to try out this new canola species for the first time, Viterra researchers are already working on improving it. Hybrids are being developed with traits such as improve drought and heat tolerance, salt tolerance, high oil content and increased yield potential.
