Phenotypic variation and stability of seed, oil and protein yields in Camelina across diverse U.S. environments

Camelina sativa L. Crantz is an emerging oilseed crop valued for its ability to produce high-quality oils and adaptability to a wide range of climates, making it an excellent crop to diversify agricultural systems. To meet the demands of both producers and end-users, continued genetic improvement of camelina germplasm is essential. In this study, we evaluated phenotypic variation among 15 camelina genotypes grown across three distinct geographical regions in the U.S. to assess the variations in seed oil and protein yields and stability. Results revealed significant effects of genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions on yield, and other key agronomic and biochemical traits. The strong influence of G×E interactions underscore the importance of multi-environment testing to identify genotypes with desirable traits for specific growing conditions. Path coefficient analysis indicated that plant height and flowering date are critical determinants of yield. Furthermore, the integration of yield performance with stability parameters allowed the identification of genotypes exhibiting both high yield potential and broad environmental adaptability. Using multi-metric stability parameters, CO46 emerged as a broadly adapted genotype with consistently high yield stability across all environments. Cs058, Cs050, and Cs089 also ranked as favorably stable genotypes across diverse camelina-growing regions and show promise for further agronomic advancement. In contrast, despite high yields of Pronghorn and Cs051, they exhibited instability across environments and therefore may be better suited for environment-specific conditions. Current findings provide a foundation for future breeding efforts to improve camelina’s adaptability across variable environmental conditions.