PERFORMANCE OF A NATURALLY OCCURRING SUBSPECIES HYBRID IN <i>B</i>. <i>campestris</i> L. var. <i>oleifera</i> Metzg.

Abstract

A naturally occurring subspecies hybrid of the type Brassica campestris ssp. sarson Prain. ’R-500’ × B. campestris L. var. oleifera Metzg. was identified. Hybrid seed borne on R-500 plants is larger and more darkly pigmented than seed from self- and sib pollinations of R-500. Of 77 seeds selected on the basis of diameter and testa color, 60 had erucic acid levels indicating that they were hybrids between R-500 and an unknown low erucic acid type. The hybrid yielded 146% of the B. campestris var. oleifera ’Candle’ in a replicated test. Oil content of the hybrid was 2.6% lower than Candle but protein content was 4.1% higher. Yield of oil and protein per hectare was 137% and 160% of Candle, respectively. Seed borne on the hybrid is brown but crude fiber content of the meal is not significantly different from the yellow-seeded, low fiber cultivar Candle. Seed produced on hybrid plants has high erucic acid oil (28.9%) and high glucosinolate meal (95.5 μm/g). Days to maturity of the hybrid is intermediate between B. campestris and B. napus.