A. P. Brown

Intergeneric hybridization between Sinapis alba and Brassica napus

Researchers have conclusively shown that Sinapis alba (commonly known as yellow mustard) has many agronomic traits which would be beneficial if transferred to rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.). S. alba is resistant or tolerant to all major insect pests of Brassica crops in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. It is also tolerant of high temperatures and drought stress, is shatter resistant and capable of high seed yield without the need for insecticides and herbicides. However, S. alba is considerably lower in oil content and lacks the high oil quality and seed meal quality of rapeseed (i.e. canola). This paper describes a combination of ovary culture and embryo rescue techniques used to develop fertile hybrid plants from the intergeneric cross between S. alba and B. napus . The hybrids were intermediate between both parents for presence of trichomes, leaf shape and color, seed size, pod shape, and seed oil content; showing expression of traits from both parental species. Hybrid plant tissue and seed contained all types of glucosinolate that exists in either B. napus or S. alba, at the same or higher level to the parental species. These hybrid crosses offer the potential for combining the desirable oil and glucosinolate qualities of B. napus with insect and disease resistance characters of S. alba.

Effect of late season insect infestation on yield, yield components and oil quality of Brassica napus , B. rapa , B. juncea and Sinapis alba in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States

The effect of late season insect infestation on seed yield, yield components, oil content and oil quality of two canola species ( Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.) and two mustard species ( B. juncea L. and Sinapis alba L.) was examined over 2 years. In each year, ten genotypes from each species were evaluated with late season insects controlled with either methyl parathion or endosulfan insecticides, and without insecticides. Major late season insect damage in 1992 was caused by cabbage seedpod weevil ( Ceutorhynchus assimilis Paykull), while diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella L.) and aphids (primarily cabbage aphids, Brevicoryne brassicae L.) were major insect pests in 1993. Insecticide application was very effective in controlling diamondback moth larvae and adult cabbage seedpod weevils, but only partially effective in controlling aphids. Higher numbers of diamondback moth larvae were observed on mustard species compared to canola species. S. alba was completely resistant to cabbage seedpod weevil and there was no damage due to this pest observed. Aphid colonization was observed on plants from all species, but infestation on S. alba and B. rapa occurred too late to have a major effect on seed yield. Seed oil content of canola species was significantly reduced by insect damage although oil quality (indicated by fatty acid profile) was not affected by insect attack. Uncontrolled insect infestation reduced seed yield of canola species by 37 and 32% in B. napus and B. rapa , respectively. Least yield reduction occurred in S. alba , where average yield reduction from plants in untreated control plots was S. alba , therefore, has good potential as an alternative crop suitable for northern Idaho because it can be grown with reduced late season insecticide application.

Assessment of Sinapis alba, Brassica napus and S. alba × B. napus hybrids for resistance to cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Canola (Brassica napus L.), yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and intergeneric crosses of S. alba × B. napus were assessed for resistance (antixenosis) to the cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus assimilis Paykull). Pod trichomes did not appear to be a major factor in the resistance of S. alba to weevils. The number of feeding punctures and eggs per pod in S. alba was not significantly different in pods with trichomes than in those where the trichomes had been removed. Choice and no-choice laboratory tests examining feeding punctures and eggs laid per pod suggested that resistance in S. alba is not conferred in the intergeneric cross, S. alba × B. napus. Similar data on feeding and weevil oviposition were found in field test plots. However, despite many eggs being laid in S. alba × B. napus hybrid plants, fewer cabbage seedpod weevil larvae developed to exit the intergeneric hybrid pods. Glucosinolate analyses of leaves, pods and seeds showed that S. alba plants have a high concentration of p-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate in all three plant parts, but B. napus has no p-hydroxybenzyl. Interestingly the intergeneric hybrid examined in this study had 62% and 60% of p-hydroxybenzyl concentration in the leaves and seeds, respectively, than was found in the S. alba parent. However, pod tissues contained very little (3 %) compared with the S. alba parent. It is possible, therefore, that the adult cabbage seedpod weevil feeds on the pods of the intergeneric hybrid and lays eggs in the pod, because of the low concentration ofp-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate, but the larvae then fail to develop as they feed on the seeds containing high concentrations of p-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate. It should be noted also that this hybrid produced pods that were more similar in physical shape to canola pods and that this may also be a factor determining cabbage seedpod weevil feeding and subsequent egg laying. In addition, both B. napus and the intergeneric hybrid produced 3-butenyl and 4-pentenyl glucosinolates in their pods, and degradation products (3-butenyl, and 4-pentenyl isothiocyanates) from these glucosinolate types, are known to be stimulatory kairomones that attract cabbage seedpod weevil. Further studies are being conducted to examine these factors in more detail.