Brassica carinata

Leaf uses

The plant has a mild flavor, and is eaten as a leaf vegetable. It is known as (); habesha gomen, (Amharic: ሐበሻ ጎመን). Named varieties include Texsel, which is particularly adapted to temperate climates. Cultivation of Ethiopia mustard as leaf vegetable is limited to small-scale production but it is slowly gaining popularity in rural as well as urban areas where commercial production is taking place.

Seed uses

Although Brassica carinata is cultivated as an oilseed crop in Ethiopia, it has high levels of undesirable glucosinolates and erucic acid. The closely related Brassica napus (rapeseed) is considered a better oilseed crop in comparison.

Brassica carinata has been used to develop an aviation biofuel for jet engines. On October 29, 2012, the first flight of a jet aircraft powered completely by biofuel, made from Brassica carinata, was completed. The byproduct of Brassica carinata oil production is utilized in protein meal for animal fodder.

Industrial application

The oil quality profile includes a high percentage of erucic acid (40–45 %) making it highly desirable as a biofuel and for industrial applications such as production of plastics, lubricants, paints, leather tanning, soaps, and cosmetics.

References

References

1. . (n.d.). ["Brassica carinata A.Braun"](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:279278-1). *The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew*.
2. . (n.d.). ["Brassica carinata A.Braun"](http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000570995). *The World Flora Online Consortium*.
3. (10 December 2021). "Ethiopian Kale (Kanzira/Kansera)-New".
4. {{BSBI 2007
5. Prakash, S. and Hinata, K. (1980), "Taxonomy, cytogenetics and origin of crop Brassicas, a review", ''Opera Botanica'', '''55''':1-57
6. "Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Ethiopia".
7. Plants for a Future. (2008-06-10). "''Brassica carinata''".
8. (2018-02-16). "Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices for Vegetable Production". John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
9. Alemaheyu, N. and Becker, H. (2002), "Genotypic diversity and patterns of variation in a germplasm material of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun)", ''Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution'',''' 49'''(6):573-582
10. Getinet, A., Rakow, G., Raney, J. P. and Downey, R. K.(1997) "Glucosinolate content in interspecific crosses of Brassica carinata with B. juncea and B. napus", ''Plant Breeding'' '''116''' (1):39–46
11. Lane, James. (18 April 2012). "Tinker, tailor, sailor, fly". BioFuels Digest.
12. "First solely-biofuel jet flight raises clean travel hopes".
13. (7 November 2012). "NRC Flies World's First Civil Jet Powered by 100 Percent Biofuel". Aero-news Network.
14. (11 May 2017). "Firm eager to ride the 'canola train' with carinata". [[The Western Producer]].
15. (August 2020). "Brassica carinata genotypes demonstrate potential as a winter biofuel crop in South East United States". Industrial Crops and Products.