Refinement of weed risk assessments for biofuels using Camelina sativa as a model species

Abstract

Summary1. Biofuel production has the potential of reducing CO 2 emissions while decreasing global dependence on fossil fuels. However, concerns have been raised on the invasiveness of biofuel feedstocks. Estimating invasion potential remains a challenge because of inconsistencies and inherent limitations of using first-tier qualitative weed risk assessment (WRA) protocols singularly. 2. We evaluated the usefulness of second-tier quantitative WRA methods using a recently introduced oilseed crop, Camelina sativa, as a model species. First, we subjected C. sativa to the qualitative Australian WRA and found that it should not be allowed entry. We then used demographic models fit with field-estimated parameters as a second-tier approach to quantitatively evaluate its invasion potential. Data on disturbance (two herbicides, mechanical, none) and seeding season (autumn, spring) relative to C. sativa demography were obtained over 2 years in two rangeland ecosystems in Montana, USA. Population growth (k) was forecast by developing population dynamics models using field data. 3. Emergence rates were greatest when C. sativa was spring-seeded; all survivors to maturity occurred only in mechanically disturbed plots. Population growth rate never exceeded 0AE03, and the maximum time to extinction was 6 years. Perturbation analyses indicated that consistent propagule pressure and biologically improbable rates of seed survival are necessary to sustain C. sativa populations, indicating that the risk of invasion by this species in the studied ecosystems is low. 4. Synthesis and applications. Although more site-years of demographic data would strengthen our conclusions about the invasion potential of C. sativa, we contend that the methods developed provide a useful contribution to WRA. If applied to proposed plant biofuel species, our second-tier quantitative refinements will elucidate important population dynamics often overlooked by qualitative WRAs and, in turn, may reduce the frequency of invasions or rejection of potentially useful species.

Oilseed Camelina (Camelina sativa L Crantz): Production Systems, Prospects and Challenges in the USA Great Plains

“…In addition, it has been demonstrated that camelina has negligible potential as an invasive weed if grown in a large scale as biodiesel crop. 53 Studies have shown that camelina oil is a good feed stock for biodiesel (prepared via transesterification) production 54,55 and as a renewable jet fuel through hydrodeoxygenation/hydro cracking. 51 In the US, several companies including Accelergy Corp., Altair, Inc., Biojet Corp. and sustainable Oils, LLC have successfully produced camelina-derived jet fuel.…”

Minimizing invasive potential ofMiscanthus × giganteusgrown for bioenergy: identifying demographic thresholds for population growth and spread

“…To date, this has been accomplished on a limited spatiotemporal scale for a single oilseed crop ( Camelina sativa ) in the intermountain West of the USA (Davis et al . ). Here, we expand upon this approach using a spatial demographic model describing the population growth and spread of the herbaceous perennial bioenergy crop M .…”

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a glutathione S-transferase involved in both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin accumulation in Camelina sativa (Brassicaceae)

“…Camelina sativa L. Cranz, a member of family Brassicaceae, is a relative of the genetic model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, which has gained increased popularity for its potential in biofuel applications (Fröhlich and Rice, 2005;Davis et al, 2011). C. sativa has been cultivated for oil production since prehistoric times and is widely distributed on marginal land (Imbrea et al, 2011).…”