Camelina, an ancient oilseed crop actively contributing to the rural renaissance in Europe. A review

Promoting crop diversification in European agriculture is a key pillar of the agroecological transition. Diversifying crops generally enhances crop productivity, quality, soil health and fertility, and resilience to pests and diseases and reduces environmental stresses. Moreover, crop diversification provides an alternative means of enhancing farmers' income. Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) reemerged in the background of European agriculture approximately three decades ago, when the first studies on this ancient native oilseed species were published. Since then, a considerable number of studies on this species has been carried out in Europe. The main interest in camelina is related to its (1) broad environmental adaptability, (2) low-input requirements, (3) resistance to multiple pests and diseases, and (4) multiple uses in food, feed, and biobased applications. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out in Europe (compared with the rest of the world) on camelina in the last three decades, including genetics and breeding, agronomy and cropping systems, and end-uses, with the aim of making camelina an attractive new candidate crop for European farming systems. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of what is still missing to scale camelina up from a promising oilseed to a commonly cultivated crop in Europe is also provided (1) to motivate scientists to promote their studies and (2) to show farmers and end-users the real potential of this interesting species

Is Drought Stress Tolerance Affected by Biotypes and Seed Size in the Emerging Oilseed Crop Camelina?

One of the main advantages of camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) is its wide environmental adaptability and extreme drought tolerance. The availability of both winter and spring camelina biotypes, characterized by different seed sizes, raises the question about possible differences in their response to drought stress at the emergence stage. To address this, a germination test was set up in controlled conditions, comparing six winter and six spring genotypes with differing seed sizes (ranging from 1.83 to 0.88 g/1000-seeds) under increasing levels of osmotic stress (0, -0.4, -0.8, -1.2, -1.4, -1.6 MPa) using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Camelina withstands mild level of osmotic stress (-0.4 MPa) without significant decrease in germination. Even at -1.2 MPa after 10 d, it still had 75% germination. Significant differences in germination were observed between biotypes, where spring biotypes performed better than winter ones. Shoot and radicle lengths were significantly diminished by imposed osmotic stress, but shoot growth seemed more impacted. In general, spring biotypes had longer shoots and radicles than winter ones. Seed size played a role in the response of camelina to drought, but it depended on biotype and stress level imposed. In particular large seeded spring types had the highest germination percentage and resulted less impaired by osmotic stress, otherwise among the tested winter types the small seeded ones were the best performing. The presented data could be useful for breeding purposes for selecting the appropriate camelina type for sowing in drought-prone regions

Comparison of camelina seed yield and biomass production in contrasting environments

The most of the research work on camelina has been carried out in northern America and continental Europe. Two breeding groups (IFVCNS and BOKU) and one group focusing on the agronomy (DISTAL) just recently started research activities focusing on the development of new genotypes more adapted for southern regions of Europe. Common field trials, with 2 camelina lines selected by IFVCNS and 6 lines selected by BOKU were established at Bologna, Italy and at Rimski Šančevi, Serbia. Newly developed camelina lines were found to be highly adapted to Bologna environment, being able to achieve sustained seed yield in spite of delayed sowing and higher temperatures during pod filling period

Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) a new oilseed crop for Mediterranean and Balkan European climates

Nowadays in Europe the new multipurpose oilseed crop, camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz), is not yet widely cultivated but in the last decade it has gained interest among farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain, in relation to its satisfactory yield, low input requirement, and suitability to different pedo-climates. If until now camelina has been grown as a spring crop in northern Europe, more recently southern environments in the Mediterranean basin and in the Balkan region have been targeted as suitable growing areas, either in autumn, winter or spring sowing. Nevertheless, the limited number of winter genotypes available, together with the typical winter season in those areas which is not very harsh, make the possibility to grow spring camelina genotypes with autumn cycle a feasible option. Aiming at defining the most suitable genotype and the optimal sowing date in the Mediterranean and Balkan regions a common trial has been established in autumn 2020 comparing four camelina genotypes (3 spring + 1 winter) and two sowing dates (early vs. late) across three locations in Italy (Bologna, 44° 30’ N, 11° 23’ E), Serbia (Novi Sad, 45° 15’ N, 19° 51’ E), and Spain (Lleida, 52° 10’ N, 4° 29’ E)

Germinal center dysregulation by histone methyltransferase EZH2 promotes lymphomagenesis

Protection against deadly pathogens requires the production of high-affinity antibodies by B cells, which are generated in germinal centers (GCs). Alteration of the GC developmental program is common in many B cell malignancies. Identification of regulators of the GC response is crucial to develop targeted therapies for GC B cell dysfunctions, including lymphomas. The histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is highly expressed in GC B cells and is often constitutively activated in GC-derived non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). The function of EZH2 in GC B cells remains largely unknown. Herein, we show that Ezh2 inactivation in mouse GC B cells caused profound impairment of GC responses, memory B cell formation, and humoral immunity. EZH2 protected GC B cells against activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) mutagenesis, facilitated cell cycle progression, and silenced plasma cell determinant and tumor suppressor B-lymphocyte–induced maturation protein 1 (BLIMP1). EZH2 inhibition in NHL cells induced BLIMP1, which impaired tumor growth. In conclusion, EZH2 sustains AID function and prevents terminal differentiation of GC B cells, which allows antibody diversification and affinity maturation. Dysregulation of the GC reaction by constitutively active EZH2 facilitates lymphomagenesis and identifies EZH2 as a possible therapeutic target in NHL and other GC-derived B cell diseases.Published versio

Carinata and Camelina, two minor Brassicaceae with great potential for the European bioeconomy

The European bioeconomy is urgently looking for new sustainable and domestically grown feedstocks able to feed different types of end-uses, both food and non-food. The actual European environmental and agricultural policies are pushing for the choice of crops able to meet both low carbon footprint, high impact on biodiversity and satisfactory revenues for farmers. All this complicated situation is further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which is strongly and negatively impacting many stable European cash crops. In this context the CARINA “CARinata and CamelINA to boost the sustainable diversification in EU farming systems” project, which has been funded by the Horizon Europe framework program with over 8M€ began in November 2022. It addresses all the above-mentioned challenges through the introduction of two novel oilseed Brassicaceae, i.e., carinata (B. carinata) and camelina (Camelina sativa), which have been identified as suitable for different European pedo-climates

SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.) A MULTIPURPOSE OILSEED CROP FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Mediterranean farmers mostly rely on winter cereals, this making weed management highly challenging due to the selection of herbicide-resistant weeds and the increasing pressure on soil-borne diseases. Crop diversification represents a valid strategy for sustainable weed management and it is essential for an agroecological transition and for ensuring sustainable and resilient farming systems. The need for crop diversification has also to meet the market requests, with particular attention to the domestic shortage of vegetable oil and proteins. In this scenario, new perspectives are open for innovative winter oilseed crops, such as afflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Safflower is of particular interest in view of its high suitability to Mediterranean climate, low input needs, high plant vigor, also in marginal soil conditions, and tolerance to low temperature. Aiming at evaluating the feasibility of high oleic safflower as a winter oilseed crop in the Mediterranean region, a multi-year and multi-location study has been carried out, across three growing seasons (2019-2021), in several locations in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany regions (Italy), traditionally devoted to cereal cultivation

Camelina germination under osmotic stress -Trend lines, time-courses and critical points

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] has increased cold, heat, and drought tolerance and decreased susceptibility to diseases and pests than oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Because water deficit at sowing leads to unsatisfactory stand establishment due to irregular seed germination and emergence, the aim of this study was to understand the response of camelina germination under osmotic stress and identify critical soil moisture levels for successful establishment. Two spring cultivars, NS Slatka and NS Zlatka, developed at the Institute of Fieldand Vegetable Crops Novi Sad, Serbia, were compared under 9 levels of osmotic stress, ranging from 0 MPa to - 1.6 MPa. Polyethylene glycol was used to obtain the osmotic potential of the solutions. Results showed that the tested cultivars did not decrease germination under mild and medium osmotic stress levels (down to - 0.8 MPa). However, germination significantly decreased in both cultivars under higher levels of osmotic stress, and NS Zlatka was more sensitive. Germination speed significantly increased at - 0.4 MPa. The estimated osmotic potentialsto stop germination were - 1.45 MPa for NS Slatka and - 1.46 MPa for NS Zlatka. Time to 50% germination also showed a significant bi-linear trend in response to osmotic potential, but in the opposite direction than the one observed in germination. Inflection points were recorded at - 0.77 MPa for NS Slatka and - 0.78 MPa for NS Zlatka, thereafter time to 50% of germination rapidly increased. This study confirmed that camelina can withstand increased levels of drought stress at germination, so it could be considered a more suitable option than oilseed rape on marginal land, or environments with irregular precipitation.This is the peer reviewed accepted version of the published article [http://fiver.ifvcns.rs/handle/123456789/2560] that will be available from 30 July 202