Improved Metal Tolerance and Seed Productivity in Camelina sativa by Overexpression of CsHMA3

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz, more popularly known as gold-of-pleasure or false flax, is an alternative oilseed crop for biofuel production and can be grown in harsh environments. There is also a present concept on the utilization of false flax as a bioenergy crop as well as a soil therapy plant for soils contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and zinc.

Camelina heavy metal P1B-ATPase (CsHMA3) genes were found to be expressed in all organs. The gene was then overexpressed in transgenic Camelina. Transgenic lines had better root growth than wild type plants, even under heavy metal stress. The transgenic lines also exhibited enhanced lead tolerance. Furthermore, the lead and zinc content in the shoots of the transgenic lines were higher than wild-type plants suggesting that overexpression of CsHMA3 might have enhanced the plants' lead and zinc tolerance. The transgenic lines also showed a greater total seed yield compared to the wild types under heavy metal stress.

Data gathered from analyses using transgenic Camelina plants will be vital in developing bioenergy crop with improved productivity and also capable of purifying an area contaminated by heavy metals.