Camelina, an adaptable oilseed crop for the warm and dried regions of Iran

Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) is an oilseed crop from the Brassicaceae family with several characteristics that made it possible to cultivate in various regions of Iran. Camelina is an allohexaploid (2n = 6x = 40) and self-pollinated crop which grows well in the marginal and poor soils and tolerant to low fertility requirement. Moreover, the hardiness of the crop makes it suitable for cropping in low input agricultural fields, such as organic systems or poor soils. Several studies reported tolerance of this crop to abiotic stress including drought, low temperature and salinity. Likewise, the tolerance of this crop to biotic stress like pests and weeds has been also reported previously. Drought, low temperature and salinity tolerance are the main characteristics of camelina. Camelina also has low susceptibility to pests and diseases. This plant has a very high resistance to common pests in oilseeds such as flea beetles. Some studies reported camelina superiority to oilseed rape in terms of biotic and abiotic stress. The unique characteristics of camelina to environmental stresses make it a potential crop for rotating with cereals, and thus, camelina may be highly beneficial for agricultural systems in warm and dried regions of Iran. In the current study, we reviewed published reports of camelina which indicate its characteristics and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.