US agri tech company Cibus has used advanced breeding techniques to develop an oilseed rape (OSR) variety which is tolerant to scelortinia.

Scelortinia is a fungal pathogen affecting 14% to 30% of global OSR crops annually.

The pathogen can result in typical yield losses of 7% to 15%.

This fungal disease-tolerant trait product was developed using a non-GMO new plant breeding technique (NPBT) called the rapid trait development system to target specific genes within the plant.

First trials

The crops have just completed their first season of field trials.

“These field results represent an exciting breakthrough in our mission to develop products that help farmers address their greatest challenges, including difficult to combat fungal disease in Canola/OSR,” stated executive vice-president of Cibus Greg Gocal.

Regulation

The new scelortinia-tolerant trait is one of 14 traits developed by Cibus.

Under a recent ruling, the US Department of Agriculture mandated that these traits are to be regulated in the same manner as traits developed using conventional breeding practices.

In the EU, gene editing technology is subject to the same regulations as genetically modified organisms, which combines DNA from different species, and is not prohibited for use in the block.