TRANSGRESSIVE SEGREGATION AND SELECTION OF ZERO ERUCIC ACID STRAINS FROM INTERGENERIC CROSSES OF BRASSICA

Abstract

Rapeseed mustard is the second most important edible oilseed crop in
India. The Indian cultivated varieties have high erucic acid in the seed oil
which is nutritionally undesirable (Gopalan et a1.1974, Sauer and Kramer
1983), and have low oleic acid while high is required for extended shelf life.
'Canola' is a trade name designating rapeseed having ideal fatty acids profile
for human consumption (Downey 1990). In India, efforts were initiated during
mid seventies resulting in identification/development of some '0' erucic acid
rapeseed mustard genotypes that need to be improved for their agronomic
attributes (Malode et a1. 1995). The available exotic 'Canola' cultivars could
not be popularized in India due to late maturity and poor seed set (Anonymous
1995). The present work reports selection and development of nutritionally
improved zero erucic acid rapeseed mustard strains, from the transgressive
segregants of intergeneric crosses of Brassica, suitable for Indian agroclimatic
conditions.