JOINT RESEARCH PROJECT TO DEVELOP PEST-RESISTANT CANOLA
Posted December 10, 1998
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, December 10, 1998
98-12-04-AG
JOINT RESEARCH PROJECT TO DEVELOP PEST-RESISTANT CANOLA
A University of Saskatchewan-led research team will get almost $750,000 from
the federal government and industry over four years to develop canola that
is resistant to all major insect pests that damage this economically
important crop.
Funding will come from a recently approved Strategic Grant of $441,100 from
the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) plus $308,000
from industry and the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Matching Investments
Initiative Program.
"The products of this research will be a major advantage to our farmers,"
said Dwayne Hegedus, a U of S adjunct professor in applied microbiology and
food science who heads Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Molecular
Plant Protection Laboratory.
However, pest-resistant canola based on this new biotechnology is five to 10
years off, he cautioned.
He noted researchers elsewhere are also working on pest-resistant,
genetically engineered canola, but no varieties have been released as yet
and their approach is only effective against one pest -- the diamondback
moth.
In contrast, the U of S-led project will be effective against the
diamondback moth, flea beetle, root maggot, and Bertha armyworm. Despite
intensive chemical spraying, these insect pests create hundreds of millions
of dollars worth of damage to canola crops annually, he noted.
The technology, which involves inserting a gene into canola plants to
prevent insects from utilizing plant nutrients, would lessen the need for
costly spraying and chemical treatment of canola seed. It is also applicable
to insect pests that damage other important crops, he said.
The project brings together and builds on work that's been going on at three
research centres located on the U of S campus -- the
U of S College of Agriculture, the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food
Research Centre, and the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology
Institute (PBI). Without this collaboration, the project would never have
come about, Hegedus stressed.
The team includes U of S applied microbiology and food science professor
George Khachatourians, Lorraine Braun of AAFC, and Sean Hemmingsen of PBI.
As well, four to six graduate students will be involved in the project.
"They will gain training in leading-edge biotechnology," said
Khachatourians.
He stressed the project will enhance the U of S's reputation as a world
centre in agricultural biotechnology. "This project and the training it will
provide will strengthen the programs of the Bioinsecticide Research Lab
which will move to the sixth floor of the Agriculture Building when the
addition is completed by the fall of 2000," he added.
Bryan Harvey, U of S Co-ordinator of Agricultural Research, said, "This
research project exemplifies the kind of co-operative effort we encourage at
the U of S. Such co-operation allows us to take full advantage of the
expertise we have in the campus community."
For further information, contact:
Dr. George Khachatourians
Applied Microbiology and Food Science
College of Agriculture
(306) 966-5032
Dr. Dwayne Hegedus
Group Leader, Molecular Plant Protection Laboratory
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(306) 956-7200
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
(306) 966-2506
(306) 966-8597 (FAX)
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
