The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a $225,000 Project Grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310). The grant aims to improve the agronomic traits of pennycress to enhance its potential as an emerging cash cover crop. The project will leverage computational protein simulation and CRISPR-Cas gene editing technologies to identify and introduce beneficial gene variants that result in earlier flowering, larger seed size, and improved root architecture in pennycress. These improved pennycress varieties will be evaluated for their growth characteristics and oil quality, with the goal of bringing pennycress closer to market as a sustainable bioenergy feedstock and cover crop. The grant period runs from July 2024 to July 2026.
Generated 3/4/25, 8:22 AM