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MT229 and MT144 high-oil camelina lines

Technology

In market

University

Two field-tested spring camelina lines delivering higher oil yield than the Suneson check variety, exclusively licensed for commercial oilseed and biofuel production.

Description

Montana State University is offering a licensing opportunity for two high-performance Camelina sativa lines: MT229 and MT144. MT229 was selected from Plant Introductions (PI 650163) and MT144 was selected from seed collection CAM226 (VNJJMK-17), both originating from the former Soviet Union. Both lines have demonstrated superior oil concentration and oil yield compared to the check variety Suneson in field trials from 2022 to 2024.

Key Features

MT229: 14% higher seed yield and 21% higher oil yield than Suneson. It also has a distinctive trait of purple stems and seed pods under stress and is slightly later-maturing, making it suitable for warmer, moisture-rich environments.
MT144: Similar seed yield to Suneson but with 7% higher oil yield. MT144 shares similar characteristics to MT229, though it lacks the purple pod color change and also matures slightly later than Suneson.

Field Trial Results

MT229: Averaged 1554-2605 kg/ha seed yield and 627-1031 kg/ha oil yield across trials in both low and high nitrogen soils.
MT144: Averaged 1565-2265 kg/ha seed yield and 628-931 kg/ha oil yield across trials in both low and high nitrogen soils, also outperforming Suneson in oil concentration.

Benefits

Higher Oil Concentration and Yield: Both MT229 and MT144 consistently outperform Suneson in oil concentration and oil yield.
Adaptability: These lines perform well in Montana, especially areas with warmer temperatures and higher moisture.

Opportunity

We are looking for partners to license these high-potential lines for commercial use.
Each line will be licensed exclusively (i.e. to a single company) for commercialization in the US and internationally. Depending on the proposals received, the two lines may be both licensed to the same partner or two different companies.
Additional agronomic information available at: https://plantsciences.montana.edu/foundationseed/varietyrelease/Chen%20and%20Lu%20Camelina%20Variety%20Release%20Aplication.pdf

About Montana State University

Montana State University's substantial research enterprise growth has been accompanied by focused investments in innovation and research translation, creating new opportunities for companies to engage with MSU research and expertise. A particular strength is MSU’s network of specialized centers, institutes, and industry-accessible core facilities, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced research infrastructure, testing capabilities, and established pathways for working with industry partners. MSU is one of a select group of universities participating in the NSF's Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, which is building the capacity and infrastructure needed to translate more research discoveries into solutions with real-world impact. The growing MSU Innovation Campus and expanding incubator infrastructure provide additional opportunities for university-industry interaction, startup development, and technology-focused companies. These efforts are complemented by MSU’s Technology Transfer Office, which works with researchers and companies to protect and license MSU inventions and facilitate industry-sponsored research collaborations.