Camelina
Camelina sativa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Camelina
Crantz
Species

Camelina is a genus within the flowering plant family Brassicaceae. The Camelina species, commonly known as false flax, are native to Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia. Most species of this genus have been little studied, with the exception of Camelina sativa, historically cultivated as an oil plant. Heinrich Johann Nepomuk von Crantz was the first botanist to use the genus Camelina in his classification works in 1762.

As a way to reduce fossil fuel emissions, the US Navy tested a 50-50 mix of jet aviation fuel and biofuel derived from camelina seeds in 2010.[1] A study published in December 2016 explained that the current low price of conventional kerosene-based jet fuel makes it cost-prohibitive for commercial airlines to use camelina-based jet fuel. The study said substantial government intervention would be one way to create a market for camelina, by combining 9 percent government subsidy on camelina crop production, with 9 percent tax on conventional fuel.[2]

Etymology

The name Camelina comes from the Greek for "ground" and "flax", alluding to its being a weed which suppresses the vigour of flax crops.[3]

Description

Camelina plants are annual or biennial herbs. Their leaves are simple, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic. The flowers are hermaphroditic actinomorphic, grouped in racemes, and yellowish colored. The seeds are formed in dehiscent siliques.[4]

Genetics

The first full genome sequence for Camelina sativa was released on 1 August 2013, by a Canadian research team. The genome sequence and its annotation are available in a genome viewer format and enabled for sequence searching and alignment.[5] Technical details of Camelina's genome sequence were published on 23 April 2014 in the academic journal Nature Communications.[6]

In 2013, Rothamsted Research in the UK reported they had developed a genetically modified form of Camelina sativa that produced Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at levels equivalent to fish oil.[7] EPA and DHA are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial for cardiovascular health. The main source of these omega-3 fatty acids is fish but supplies are limited and unsustainable.[8][9] In October 2023, Yield10 Bioscience acquired an exclusive commercial license for the Rothansted's EPA/DHA Camelina.[10] In January 2024, Yield10 requested a Regulatory Status Review from USDA-APHIS for the modified Camelina.[11]

Species

Four common species are presented below. However, at least two databanks indicate more species may exist.[12]

Biodiesel

Biodiesel made from camelina has a variety of benefits. First, traditional petroleum or diesel fuel is not renewable resources, the production of these resources is finite. Camelina biodiesel, however, is a renewable resource. Camelina based aviation fuel could save 84% of carbon emissions.[14] Camelina biodiesel can be produced in large quantities as feedstocks are enough. Moreover, camelina biodiesel can reduce a country's dependence on fossil resources, which can ensure a country's energy security. In addition, camelina biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel, and it is biodegradable.[15] The greenhouse gas emission of camelina biodiesel produced by no-till farming is lower than that of traditional methods.[16]

References

  1. ^ "From Seed to Supersonic" (PDF). Currents. US Navy. Winter 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  2. ^ "Camelina oil could be economically feasible as source of commercial jet fuel, new OSU analysis shows". Oregon State University Extension and Agricultural Research News. 2017-02-17. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Attractions, Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and. "FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dec.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2012-12-12.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Plantes et botanique – le genre Camelina". Plantes et botanique. 27 May 2020.
  5. ^ Camelina sativa Genome Project http://www.camelinadb.ca/index.html Archived 1 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Kagale, Sateesh; Koh, Chushin; Nixon, John; Bollina, Venkatesh; Clarke, Wayne E.; Tuteja, Reetu; Spillane, Charles; Robinson, Stephen J.; Links, Matthew G.; Clarke, Carling; Higgins, Erin E.; Huebert, Terry; Sharpe, Andrew G.; Parkin, Isobel A. P. (2014). "The emerging biofuel crop Camelina sativa retains a highly undifferentiated hexaploid genome structure". Nature Communications. 5: 3706. Bibcode:2014NatCo...5.3706K. doi:10.1038/ncomms4706. PMC 4015329. PMID 24759634.
  7. ^ Ruiz-Lopez, N.; Haslam, R. P.; Napier, J. A.; Sayanova, O. (January 2014). "Successful high-level accumulation of fish oil omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in a transgenic oilseed crop". The Plant Journal. 77 (2): 198–208. doi:10.1111/tpj.12378. PMC 4253037. PMID 24308505.
  8. ^ Simopoulos, Artemis P. and Cleland, Leslie G. (Editors) "Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid Ratio: The Scientific Evidence" (World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics), Publisher: S Karger AG, 19 September 2003, ISBN 978-3805576406, Page 34
  9. ^ Coghlan, Andy (4 January 2014) "Designed plant oozes vital fish oils"' New Scientist, Page 12, also available on the Internet at [1] Archived 1 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Yield10 Bioscience Exercises Option to Finalize an Exclusive, Global Commercial License to Advanced Omega-3 Camelina Technology from Rothamsted Research". Yahoo Finance. 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Yield10 Bioscience Files Request for Regulatory Status Review with USDA-APHIS for Camelina Designed to Produce the EPA and DHA Components of Omega-3 Oil". Morningstar, Inc. 8 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Camelina – The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Archived from the original on 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  13. ^ Österreichische botanische Zeitschrift (in German). Springer-Verlag. 1891. p. 123. Retrieved 18 May 2021. Die zweite interessante Crucifere ist Camelina rumelica Velen., welche ich schon im Jahre 1887 aus Bulgarien beschrieben und abgebildet habe.
  14. ^ "Camelina jet fuel could cut carbon emissions by 84 percent". phys.org. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  15. ^ Quan, He (2016). "An evaluation of biodiesel production from Camelina sativa grown in Nova Scotia". Industrial Crops & Products. 81: 162–168. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2015.11.073.
  16. ^ Dangol, Namrata (2017). "Life-cycle energy, GHG and cost comparison of camelina-based biodiesel and bio jet fuel". Boules. 11 (4): 1–9. doi:10.1080/17597269.2017.1369632. S2CID 135275011.
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