Abstract
Rapeseed breeding programs are focused mainly on improving plant potential and seed yield. One of the ways to improve seed yield in oilseed rape is heterosis, which is hybrid vigor that results in a greater biomass, increased seed yield, and faster development. The purpose of this study was to estimate yield-related trait heterosis for single cross and three-way cross hybrids of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). A population of 60 doubled-haploid (DH) lines and two generations of hybrids were evaluated in field trials to assess six yield-related traits: plant height, number of branches per plant, number of siliques per plant, silique length, number of seeds per silique, and thousand seed weight. Heterosis effects for each trait were estimated by a comparison of the particular hybrid with: (1) the trait mean over both parents—mid-parent heterosis and (2) to the value of better parent—best-parent heterosis. Traits with clear positive heterosis and traits with varied heterosis were observed in this study. For the first group, we include plant height, silique length, and the number of seeds per silique—a large number of hybrids expressed significant positive heterosis for these traits, independent from the year of observations and the type of hybrid. For the second group, with varied heterosis, we can include the number of branches and siliques per plant and thousand seed weight. For these traits, hybrids exhibited both positive and negative significant heterosis, without a clear pattern for the years and types of hybrids.
Highlights
Over the last 30 years, due to quality breeding, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) has become a very important food crop of increasing significance in the international market
Heterosis effects for each trait were estimated by a comparison of the particular hybrid with: (1) the trait mean over both parents for single cross hybrids, and over two direct (CMS 9 DH and Rfo line) or three indirect (DH, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and Rfo lines) parents for threeway cross hybrids—mid-parent heterosis and (2) to the value of better parent—best-parent heterosis
For standard varieties (Arsenal and Monolit) mean plant height oscillated around 156 cm, regardless from year of observations
Summary
Over the last 30 years, due to quality breeding, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) has become a very important food crop of increasing significance in the international market. Poland, depending on the year, ranks third or fourth place among the largest producers of rapeseed in Europe (in the 2017/2018 season—2.2 million tons). Nowadays in Poland, only double low (00-quality) varieties of oilseed rape are cultivated (zero-erucic and low glucosinolate content) (Bocianowski et al 2019). Rapeseed oil is used in the production of margarine and cooking oil, due to its superior nutritional qualities, which include a low saturated fat content and a high level of monosaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Oilseed rape seeds are processed for food and feed, but they are used for the production of biofuels. The demand for them is still growing, and breeding programs are focused mainly on improving plant potential and seed yield
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