A Groba Cterium-media Ted Transformation of Canola

Cano1a (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop, ranking third only to soybean and palm oil in global production. It is a member of the family Brassicacea (syn. Cruciferae). It is a winter or spring crop and is amenable to growth in cooler climates. Once considered a specialty crop for Canada, it is now a global crop. Many other countries including the USA, Australia and those in Europe also grow cano1a. However, Canada and the United States account for most of the cano1a crop. It is grown mostly in Western Canada and North Central United States. In the year 2002, in Canada alone, 9.6 million acres of cano1a was grown (1) and in the USA, 1.5 million acres was devoted to cano1a cultivation (2). The term 'cano1a' was adopted by Canada apparently as an acronym of the Canadian Oilseed Association in 1979. Although cano1a has been commonly also known as rapeseed or oilseed rape, in the strict sense cano1a oil is defined as an oil that must contain less than 2% erucic acid, and the solid component of the seed must contain less than 30 ~M of anyone or a mixture of 3-buteny1 glucosino1ate, 4-penteny1 glucosino1ate, 2-hydroxy-3 buteny1 glucosino1ate, and 2-hydroxy-4-penteny1 glucosino1ate per gram of air-dry, oil-free solid. Cano1a oil is widely used as cooking oil, salad oil, and making margarine. Of all edible vegetable oils widely available today, it has the lowest saturated fat content, making it appealing to health-conscious consumers. Cano1a oil is also used in lubricants and hydraulic fluids especially when there is a significant risk of oil leaking to waterways or into ground water (3). It is also used in the manufacture of inks, biodegradable grease, in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Cano1a meal, which is the leftover product of the seeds after extracting oil, is used as a protein supplement in dairy, beef, swine and poultry rations and is recognized for its consistent high quality and value. The increased processing activity within Canada has led to rising consumption and exports of meal and product mixtures. Feed mixtures include such items as pea-can meal (combining dry peas and cano1a meal) as well as incorporating cano1a meal with dehydrated alfalfa products. The bulk of Canada's cano1a meal exports supply the USA feed ingredient market, which imports over a million t9nnes annually and represents 80% or more of