The entire genomic sequence of 12 rapeseed (canola) varieties has been mapped by a global consortium of US, Canadian, Israeli and European research bodies using artificial intelligence (AI). 

Following scientific publication, the pan-genome will be available to the entire canola breeding and research community seeking to accelerate the genetic understanding of this important crop’s broad genetic diversity. 

This knowledge will be leveraged by the Canola Pan-genome Consortium to develop “elite lines” of rapeseed harboring key commercial traits. The aim is to develop these new crops rapidly to bring better-quality products to the market.

The consortium includes key players in the canola industry, including Bayer, Corteva Agriscience, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Nuseed. Each contributed their own canola lines to the research and received the full pan-genome comparison results.

“Working with industry to build a pan-genome database, and understanding the whole genome is a key advancement in our ability to unlock the full potential of canola for improved agronomics, healthier oil profiles, and developing entirely new canola plant-based solutions,” says Dr. Leon Streit, global R&D leader at Nuseed, one of the consortium’s members.

Bruce Harrison, senior director of seed breeding and innovation at Nutrien Ag Solutions, adds: “This is the first time that a project puts 12 Brassica genome sequences together allowing canola breeders the opportunity to examine and compare variations among multiple varieties at the genomic level.”
The consortium generated a full genome sequence of 12 rapeseed varieties that were assembled using DeNovoMAGIC software developed by the genomics company NRGene. 

Each genome was built from about one billion DNA chemical elements and on average differ from other genomes in 40 percent of the DNA elements. These differences in the genetic content are responsible for the unique field performance of each variety. 

In order to identify all of the unique DNA elements in each variety, NRGene performed an all-to-all comparison on the dozen chromosome-level genome sequences and built the pan-genome database.

Corteva Agriscience Canola Breeding Leader, Steve King, says: “The pan-genome will allow us to create higher-performing canola seed products, boosting productivity and enabling farmers and their communities to thrive.”

Complexities of canola
Rapeseed is a major oil seed crop considered to be a high-quality vegetable oil and commonly used in food production.

According to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization, rapeseed is farmed on approximately 35 million acres globally, which produced 85 million tons in 2019. Canola is the brand name for Canadian rapeseed varieties.

Extensive breeding is done globally, focusing on developing higher-yielding and more nutritional rapeseed varieties that can naturally resist plant diseases. The use of DNA markers has already enhanced canola breeding over the past three decades. 

Yet, due to canola’s genome complexity, diversity and instability, the need for a whole-genome understanding became a bottleneck in canola breeding. Building a pan-genome database to unravel the broad genomic diversity in canola is therefore pegged as key to expanding the crop’s productivity.

“The completion of the sequencing of all the genomes and the delivery of the comparative pan-genome analysis has revealed the scope of genetic diversity that exists within the crop and is truly the final satisfying step of this rewarding initiative,” says Dr. Andrew Sharpe, director of genomics and bioinformatics at the Global Institute for Food Security.

“The pan-genome is already revealing previously hidden novel structural variation that will prove invaluable in characterizing economically important traits,” adds Dr. Isobel Parkin, research scientist at Agriculture & Agri-food Canada.

Canola functionalities
Canola is touted as a highly functional emergent protein source in Kerry research. Last December, BlackGrain from Yellow Fields, a new rapeseed-based ingredient developed by Avena Nordic Grain (Apetit Group), received novel food authorization from the European Commission. 

Canola-based protein consumption has comparable beneficial effects on human metabolism as soy protein, according to nutrition scientists at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.

Meanwhile, canola oil is known for its high content of omega 3 fatty acids and is an ingredient in Nestlé’s new plant-based product that mimics the flaky texture and rich flavor of tuna, branded “Vuna.”

Last August, protein from upcycled rapeseed waste from NapiFeryn BioTech was featured among the standout F&B concepts set to earn a share of EIT Food’s €5.4 million (US$6.4 million) investment fund. NapiFeryn was also spotlighted at the Future Food-Tech summit this year.