Breeding Canola (Brassica napus L.) for Protein in Feed and Food

Abstract

Interest in canola (Brassica napus L.) ­In response to this interest, scientists have been tasked with altering and optimizing the protein production chain to ensure canola proteins are safe for consumption and economical to produce. Specifically, the role of plant breeders in developing suitable varieties with the necessary protein profiles is crucial to this interdisciplinary endeavour. In this article, we aim to provide an overarching review of the canola protein chain from the perspective of a plant breeder, spanning from the genetic regulation of seed storage proteins in the crop to advancements of novel breeding technologies and their application in improving protein quality in canola. A review on the current uses of canola meal in animal husbandry is presented to underscore potential limitations for the consumption of canola meal in mammals. General discussions on the allergenic potential of canola proteins and the regulation of novel food products are provided to highlight some of the challenges that will be encountered on the road to commercialization and general acceptance of canola protein as a dietary protein source.

Characterization of novel loci controlling seed oil content in Brassica napus by marker metabolite-based multi-omics analysis

“…B. napus is an important oil-producing crop, and the remaining meal can also be used as animal feed because of its rich protein [ 47 , 48 ]. Therefore, the research on the protein content of the B. napus seeds is also of great value [ 78 , 79 ]. Our metabolome data included amino acid metabolites, such as L-lysine (mr1330) and L-valine (mr1322) (Additional file 1 : Table S5), which will facilitate future research on improvements for the protein content of B. napus seeds.…”

Factors Affecting the Quality of Canola Grains and Their Implications for Grain-Based Foods

“…Breeding for desirable traits, such as increased oil content, an improved fatty acid profile, and enhanced protein content, can lead to the development of canola cultivars with superior grain quality [35]. For this purpose, breeding strategies and genetic improvement techniques have been employed to enhance canola quality by selecting for traits such as high oil content, low erucic acid, GSLs, and sinapine content, and desirable fatty acid profiles [36,37]. These traits are quantitative and complex, meaning they are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, and their genetic architecture is not fully understood.…”

Plasma Treatment Modifies Element Distribution in Seed Coating and Affects Further Germination and Plant Growth through Interaction with Soil Microbiome

“…The byproduct of oil extraction from B. napus seeds, known as rapeseed meal or canola meal, is a valuable protein-rich animal feed ingredient . We applied standardized low-intensity plasma treatment and compared the effect in different setups widely used in the laboratories (wet paper/agarized media, aseptic conditions) but also simulated the agricultural application (hydroponic cultivation, soil mixtures enriched or deprived in microbiome composition), aiming to get a complex overview of effects of plasma treatment of seeds and evaluate the real potential of plasma agriculture.…”