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.