REGISTRATION OF WCL-SL1 SALT TOLERANT LESQUERELLA FENDLERI GERMPLASM

Authors: DIERIG, DAVID; SHANNON, MICHAEL; GRIEVE, CATHERINE

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Many agricultural lands are plagued by saline irrigation problems and accumulation of harmful trace elements that limit their use. Lesquerella has been identified as potentially able to accumulate selenium, a harmful trace element, from contaminated soils in its leaves and stems. The oil from lesquerella is used for industrial purposes, and the selenium bioaccumulation would not be transferred to the food chain. This new salt-tolerant line allows lesquerella to be grown on more marginal soils where drainage effluents are reused, and it also provides germplasm with high genetic diversity for future improvements. Development of lesquerella into a viable commercial crop will provide an alternative crop for U.S. farmers and an alternative domestic source of hydroxy fatty acids, presently filled by imported castor.

Technical Abstract: Many agricultural lands are plagued by saline irrigation problems and accumulation of harmful trace elements that limit their use. Lesquerella has been identified as potentially able to accumulate selenium, a harmful trace element, from contaminated soils in its leaves and stems. The oil from lesquerella is used for industrial purposes, and the selenium bioaccumulation would not be transferred to the food chain. This new salt tolerant-line allows lesquerella to be grown on more marginal soils where drainage effluents are reused, and it also provides germplasm with high genetic diversity for future improvements. Development of lesquerella into a viable commercial crop will provide an alternative crop for U.S. farmers and an alternative domestic source of hydroxy fatty acids, presently filled by imported castor.