Camelina sativa: For Biofuels and Bioproducts - Industrial Crops: Breeding for BioEnergy and Bioproducts - page 159

show higher levels of diversity among these accessions [ 22 ]. There is the possibility
of utilizing the numerous wild relatives of camelina; however, between C. sativa
and C. microcarpa, there is a barrier to cross-pollination, limiting C. microcarpa 's
value as a source of new traits [ 21 ].
Major Breeding Achievements
Breeding efforts of camelina have so far succeeded in producing several widely
available varieties that show high yields. Yields of trials in Western Nebraska in
2005 and 2006 were between 556 and 1,456 kg ha 1 depending on the date of
planting [ 29 ]. Yields of winter camelina varieties in Minnesota from 2007 to 2008
were also reported to be within the range of 311-625 kg ha 1 [ 30 ]. Camelina in
Arizona under irrigation yielded over 1,500 kg ha 1 in 2009 and 2010 [ 8 ]. Camelina
yields in Chile have also been reported to vary between 420 and 2,314 kg ha 1 for
2008 and 2009 [ 14 ]. Mean yields across several environments in Germany ranged
from 1,460 to 1,715 kg ha 1 [ 31 ]. Camelina is able to produce adequate yields
under dryland conditions, but exposure to excessive heat during flowering nega-
tively affects its ability to produce higher yields and affects the oil profile [ 32 ].
Public and private breeding programs for spring camelina development exist in
the American Midwest, Montana, and Western Europe. In the American Midwest,
the Yellow Stone variety was developed by Great Plains Oil in Ohio. High Plains
Crop Development, LLC, is currently active in Torrington, WY, and is producing
varieties for the High Plains Region. Blue Sun Biodiesel is currently active and has
previously developed the varieties BSX G22, BSX G24, and Cheyenne. The
varieties Suneson and Blaine Creek were developed in Montana at Montana State
University by Dr. Duane Johnson. Dr. Johnson currently works under Clear Skies
Inc. out of Big Fork, MT, developing camelina varieties. The varieties Ligena and
Celine were both developed in Europe and have demonstrated high yields in Europe
and in the United States under a variety of conditions. The variety Celine was
developed by Limagrain and has been observed to have a lower content of
glucosinolates than other varieties but is shatter-prone [ 33 ]. Sustainable Oils of
Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. is close to releasing their proprietary high
yielding varieties SO-40, SO-50, and SO-60. Due to the low rate of outcrossing in
camelina, major breeding programs have developed their varieties through open-
pollinated stands, using either pedigree selection or recurrent selection. Inbred
camelina lines used for the production of genetic maps have been derived through
single-seed descent to the F6 generation [ 31 ]. Some testing has been done to
determine the combining abilities of camelina lines for use in the creation of hybrid
varieties, but so far, no male sterilization methods have been commercialized [ 34 ].
Protoplast fusion has been used to create a somatic hybrid between Camelina
sativa and Brassica oleracea , with the intention to transfer camelina's resistance to
the black spot leaf disease, although this was met with limited success [ 35 ].