Generational Comparisons in Brassica campestris: Implications for Breeding and Crop Improvement

Author(s) : Salsabeel Rauf, Hafiz Basheer Ahmad, Shazia Saeed, Ahmad Nawaz Gill

Digital object identifier:

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF060114

Abstract:

Plant breeders utilize functional genetic variation within elite germplasm. This research aimed to identify a high-yielding, high-oil-content line with characteristics similar to canola. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, following backcrossing techniques. Four elite lines were used—two from a local source, UAF-11 and Toria, and two imported canola lines, Span and TR-8, of Brassica campestris. Statistically significant variation was observed among the parents and their progeny for various traits in all crosses. The F1 cross TR8 × Toria showed the highest values for the number of branches (22.33), seeds per siliqua (25.39), 1000 seed weight (2.82 g), and seed yield per plant (22.02 g). BC1 had the highest oil content (47.35%), F2 exhibited the highest oleic acid content (56.55%), and F1 had linoleic acid (16.47%) with low levels of Erucic acid found in F1 (1.13%), BC1 (1.92%), and F2 (2.73%). A single plant from F3 yielded the highest amount (24.32 g/plant), also displaying double low characteristics: an erucic acid content of 0.77%, a glucosinolate content of 15.77%, and an oil content of 51.65%.