ISHS Acta Horticulturae 459: International Symposium Brassica 97, Xth Crucifer Genetics Workshop
BRASSICA CARINATA AN OILSEED CROP FOR CANADA |
| Authors: | G. Rakow, A. Getinet |
| Keywords: | Brassica carinata, Ethiopian mustard, oilseed, canola-quality |
| Abstract:
Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard) originated in Ethiopia where it is used both as a leaf vegetable and as an oilseed. It is known to be highly heat and drought tolerant, and could therefore be a potential oilseed crop for the dry Canadian prairie. Eleven B. carinata germplasm collections of the Plant Gene Resource Centre/Ethiopia were evaluated for two years in replicated yield tests at Saskatoon, Canada, under dryland conditions. The accessions were late maturing and low yielding, and were therefore not adapted for oilseed production in Canada. Also, oil contents of B. carinata were low compared to B. napus. The oleic acid content of zero erucic acid B. carinata was low (28.3%) compared to B. napus (62.0%), while linoleic and linolenic acid contents were higher than those in B. napus. Brassica carinata seed contained high concentrations of allyl glucosinolate. The development of canola-quality forms is an absolute requirement for B. carinata oilseed production in Canada. This research is presently underway, and results available to date indicate that canola quality B. carinata could be developed. In addition to this, research is conducted to identify early maturing, high yielding B. carinata through pedigree selection from a range of genetically diverse germplasm sources. It is concluded that B. carinata could be developed into an oilseed crop for the dry areas of the western Canadian prairies, thereby increasing and stabilizing canola production in Canada. | |
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