The previously untold story about Professor Zenon Kondra’s 1960’s research as co-breeder with Dr. Baldur Stefansson at the University of Manitoba, developing the first Canola variety for Canada, named Tower, and his subsequent canola breeding achievements as Professor of oilseed and special crops at the University of Alberta

• The previously untold story about Dr. Zenon Kondra’s 1960’s research as co-breeder of the first Canola variety for Canada, named Tower,and his subsequent canola breeding achievements at the University of Alberta

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Briggs, K. G.

• Section (A) of TALES OF ALES #8 describes production and variety changes over time as rapeseed production in Canada transitioned into canola production as soon as this new crop was developed. Section (B) describes how Dr. Zenon Kondra’s breeding work created the very first Canola variety in Canada at the University of Manitoba, in plant breeder Professor Steffanson’s program, and then reset the bar to increase the yield potential in this new crop with its newly defined grain quality requirements. Kondra then focused on breeding adapted canola varieties for the Parkland zone of the western Canadian Prairies, with its short growing season but high yield potential. It also describes Kondra’s continued successful breeding work at the University of Alberta, the ever -continuing funding challenges that beset the program on a yearly basis, and the foundational germplasm and facility improvements left as a legacy for the breeders who followed, Professors Stringam and Rahman. Kondra’s variety Alto was one of the parents in the cross that Stringam (Kondra’s academic replacement after his retirement) used to breed the variety Quantum, the variety that “saved the entire W. Canadian canola industry from production devastation from the new but debilitating disease called blackleg”. A summary listing of all the varieties subsequently released by the University of Alberta up to 2022 is also included.

• Date created

  2023-08-04

• Subjects / Keywords

  • University Manitoba Rapeseed Breeding Program Kondra Co-breeder First Canola Variety in Canada University Alberta Canola breeding Program and Varieties Germplasm Development Professor Stringam Quantum Blackleg Resistant VarietyStringam

• Type of Item

  Research Material

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-wdmz-zp32

• License

  Public Domain Mark 1.0