St. Louis, Missouri, USA
October 5, 2013

Today, ARVEGENIX LLC launched a major research program to characterize and improve Field Pennycress. Arvegenix compiled a landrace collection of 300 lines from 93 locations across 14 states to provide genetic diversity for its breeding program. This collection is now growing in field trials in central Missouri and central Illinois. In addition, ARVEGENIX initiated a comprehensive genomics program in the laboratories of Intuitive Genomics Inc. at the nearby Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center for genotyping-by-sequencing the entire ARVEGENIX proprietary collection. The genomics program will evaluate the ARVEGENIX collection along with the worldwideThlaspi arvense collection obtained from the USDA, Ames, Iowa. 

CEO Vijay Chauhan commented, “We are pleased to be improving Pennycress using modern breeding and genomic techniques. We expect to see rapid improvements in yields and desirable agronomic characteristics.”

ARVEGENIX will begin a breeding program of crossing and selection in early 2014 using genotyping and sequencing information to improve Field Pennycress performance. 

Website: http://www.covercress.com

Published: October 5, 2013