Pollen Genotype Effects on Seed Quality Traits in Winter Oilseed Rape

The genetics of seed compounds is complex because seed quality traits might be exclusively determined by the genotype of the female parent or, depending on the genotype of the embryo, may also be affected by the genotype of the pollen parent. For many quality traits of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), the influence of the pollen parent is not well known. In this study, two male sterile lines (female parent) were pollinated by 10 genotypes (pollen parent) differing largely in seed quality. Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Northern Germany, with two replications in 1 yr. Pollen parents were sown in plots and 10 male sterile plants from each female parent were hand planted into the center of each plot. Seeds were harvested from pollen parents and from the interplanted female parents. Seeds were analyzed for oil, protein, and sinapic acid esters by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy; for glucosinolate and tocopherol content by high-performance liquid chromatography; and for fatty acid content by gas liquid chromatography. Earlier results were confirmed in that fatty acid composition is dependent on the embryo genotype and is therefore largely influenced by the pollen parent. Significant pollen parent effects were also observed for oil content, indole glucosinolate, sinapoylglucose, total sinapic acid ester, and gamma-tocopherol contents. The F-1 seed quality was positively correlated with the pollen parent seed quality. In conclusion, not only the fatty acid composition but also other seed quality traits such as oil content are influenced by the genotype of the pollen parent. This should be considered when analyzing open pollinated plants.