Canola

:For the figure in Celtic mythology see Canola (Celtic mythology)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In agriculture, Canola is a trademarked cultivar of the rapeseed plant from which rapeseed oil is obtained. It was initially bred in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur Stefansson in the 1970s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rapeseed oil was produced in the 19th century as a source of a lubricant for steam engines. However, the oil had a bitter taste due to high levels of glucosinolates (mustard flavor). The oil was also thought to cause heart problems due to high levels of erucic acid; however, it was later noticed that laboratory rats showed the same symptoms when fed similar quantities of other fats. Canola has been bred to reduce the amount of glucosinolates and erucic acid, yielding a palatable oil. Canola stands for Canadian oil, or the backronym CANadian Oil Less Acid.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2004, North Dakota produced 91% of the Canola in the United States.http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/marrank.txt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See complete article at rapeseed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Agriculture: Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). The practice of agriculture is also known as farming, while scientists, inventors and others devoted to improving farming met...

Cultivar: In botany, a cultivar is a cultivated selection that can be propagated reliably in a prescribed manner. This may be by seed, by grafting or it may be vegetatively propagated, i.e, be a clone. The word cultivar is a portmanteau coined from "cultivated" and "variety". Cultivars may be either particul...

Rapeseed: Rapeseed Brassica napus, also known as Rape, Oilseed Rape, Rapa, Rapaseed and (one particular cultivar) Canola, is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae. The name is derived through Old English from a term for turnip, rapum (see Brassica napobrassica, which may be considered a ...

Canola related Images and Photos (experimental)

Canola Farm Yellow Flowers Germany

Canola Fields and Clouds in the Canadian Prairies

Oil Droplet Running Off an Oilseed Rape or Canola Leaf (Brassica Napus)