Rapeseed breeding

McVetty, P.B.E., and C.D. Zehner. 2007. Breeding herbicide tolerant oilseed rape cultivars. In Rapeseed Breeding. Advances in Botanical Research, Vol. 45. S.K. Gupta, Ed. San Diego, CA Elsevier, pp. 234—270. 

The rapeseed breeding program at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, was initiated in 1953. Soybeans, sunflowers and safflowers were evaluated as potential edible oilseed crops for several years. Work on these crops was discontinued when it became evident that rapeseed was the best adapted edible oilseed for large-scale production in the Prairie Provinces. Since 1966, the plant breeder at Winnipeg has devoted most of his time to rape-seed. In 1958, a chemist joined the staff. The staff now includes one breeder, a chemist, and a pathologist. 

The rapeseed breeding program at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, began in 1969, primarily to develop cultivars for regions of Alberta where climatic conditions differ from those in most parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

As previously noted, rapeseed breeding in Canada has taken place primarily at three locations, the Agriculture Canada Research Station at Saskatoon (and in early years Indian Head), the University of Manitoba, and also more recently at the University of Alberta. Plant breeding techniques that were used to develop new cultivars of rapeseed have been described in Chapter 6. 

Introduction Rapeseed Breeding Canola in Other Countries Future Trends References... 

The development of the double low rapeseed placed Canada at the forefront of rapeseed breeding in the world. To distinguish the superior edible products derived from double-low varieties of B. napus and B. campestris, the Western Canadian Oilseed Crushers Association trademarked the term canola in 1978. The word canola stands for Canadian oil, low acid. This trademark was subsequently transferred to the Canola Council of Canada (the name also changing from the Rapeseed Association of Canada) in 1980. The success of canola can be seen from the approximate 7 million tonnes of canola seed produced in Canada each year, of which half is exported with the remainder crushed domestically. In Canada, approximately 90% of canola oil is used for salad and cooking oils while 50% of shortening and margarine oils are produced from canola. 

High Erucic Acid Rapeseed Breeding Objectives... 

Gupta, S.K., Pratap, A., 2007. History, origin and evolution. Rapeseed breeding. In Advances in Botanical Research, vol. 45. Elsevier Ltd, New York, pp. 1-21. 

Ulrich, A., Furtan, W.H., Downey, R.K., 1984. Biotechnology and rapeseed breeding some economic considerations. Sci. Counc. Can. Rep. 67. 

---