Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
agronomic practices for commercial production are still being studied. Among this
includes getting suitable herbicides registered for scaling up lesquerella production
[
7
,
14
]. Lesquerella grows slowly in the early season and weed control is an
important issue [
115
]. However, progress is being made in getting lesquerella
among the crops included in the labels of herbicides. To date, research studies
have shown that Prefar
(46 % bensulide) can be used at a rate of 4-6 qt/acre
during planting, and Prowl
™
H2O (38.7 % pendimethalin) at 3 pt/acre after the
plants have reached 4-10 leaves (McCloskey, 2012, The School of Plant Sciences,
University of Arizona, “personal communication”). Fine-tuning other agronomic
recommendations for the crop remains with the public sector research centers.
Paarlberg [
5
] noted that the involvement of the private sector is very valuable in
speeding up the development of new crops, but it depends whether the private
sector sees a potential for the crop to be proprietized.
The economic benefits of lesquerella compared to other crops have been studied.
Van Dyne [
115
] concluded that returns from growing lesquerella can supplement
those from other crops grown in counties in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where
the crop has the best production potential. However, farmers need to be made aware
that net returns from growing the crop are higher than other alternatives for them to
consider growing it. Updated economic data on lesquerella production are needed
since costs have changed significantly since the last reported economic study.
The properties of lesquerella oil have been fully characterized by the USDA-
ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (formerly Northern
Regional Research Laboratory) in Peoria, Illinois. The center has confirmed that
thermal behavior data of lesquerolic acid is comparable to ricinoleic acid [
19
] and
there are various advantages of lesquerella oil over other vegetable oils [
22
]. Addi-
tional studies have been suggested to further look on seed-oil extrusion methods to
obtain optimal oil qualities and yield during processing [
116
].
Other potential use of lesquerella is in the research efforts to understand lipid
biosynthesis and trait manipulation in plants. Genes from lesquerella have been
cloned and studied in
Arabidopsis
and was determined to show both hydroxylase
and desaturase activities [
117
]. A gene (
LfKCS45
) that encodes a 3-ketoacyl-CoA
synthase that functions in the production of saturated very long chain fatty acids has
been characterized and localized to be in the lateral root cap of
P. fendleri
[
118
].
Follow-up work to harness and integrate the desirable traits of
P. fendleri
to
B. napus
might also be needed. Characterization of genes and studies to determine
the HFA biosynthesis pathway in this new oilseed crop might help the development
and improvement efforts in other industrial and oilseed crops.
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