Weeding Out Secondary Dormancy Potential from Volunteer Canola
Research Objective
- Identify the area of the canola genome responsible for weed dormancy in spring B. napus
- Look at the gene DOG1 (stands for 'delay of germination') to see the source that causes its dormancy
Project Description
Understanding how canola can become a weed is very important for Canada as it is a major crop in the industry. Several historical and diversity collection lines have been identified as having moderate to extreme dormancy potential to become a weed, and this study proposes to look at secondary dormancy in B. napus. This will be done by identifying the heritable trait causing dormancy in spring B. napus and mapping it on the genome for its location. The trait causing dormancy can then be identified by its location to see if it was passed down between generations using molecular techniques (ie. marker assisted selection) and studied for its pattern of heritability. Knowing the area of the genome that is responsible for plant dormancy will allow breeders to select against this trait, allow weed scientists to identify volunteer canola, and for seed laboratories to determine the dormancy potential of canola seed lots.