An update to the Canadian range, abundance, and ploidy of Camelina spp. (Brassicaceae) east of the Rocky Mountains

The distribution and abundance of three Camelina species introduced to Canada is unknown, but critical for evaluating the risks associated with unconfined release of transgenic Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (2n = 40). Furthermore, previous reports suggest Canadian populations of Camelina microcarpa Andrz. ex DC. vary for ploidy and ability to hybridize with C. sativa. We completed 8 weeks of field work in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, southern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. We determined the ploidy composition of the populations found. We did not locate Camelina alyssum (Mill.) Thell., but located four sites with C. sativa and 34 with C. microcarpa. Eleven C. microcarpa populations were tetraploid (2n = 26, 1.00pg/2C) and 22 were hexaploid (2n = 40, 1.50pg/2C), while two populations were mixed. We examined material from botanical gardens and plant gene resource centres assessing total nuclear DNA content and completing chromosome counts for each species and cytotype identified, to determine whether ...