Insights into the Genetic Improvement of Canola

Abstract

The Canola (Brassica napus L.) plant is a vegetable oilseed crop that may be used as a leafy vegetable, a source of edible oil, feed for cattle, a source of protein, and for industrial applications. Even its waste can be recycled and fed to animals or used as an ornamental crop. It is imperative to note that various genetic engineering tools and plant breeding technologies may play an essential role in developing climate-resilient canola with higher nutrient utilisation efficiency (NUE). It has been found that the synthesis of stress metabolites in canola results in an imbalance in hormone levels, which further results in reduced yield and oil content. Crop improvement in canola is possible through modern omics genetic tools such as quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, transcriptomic, qPCR and RNA-sequencing, molecular markers, gene mapping, gene editing, etc. Scientists are very interested in knowing that canola proteins are safe for consumption and that producing them is economically feasible by altering or optimising the protein production chain in canola. This chapter focuses on the advances and limitations in plant transformation strategies for the genetic improvement of canola to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture, which would benefit consumers, farmers, and the economy. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.