Seed oils winter rape

Hughes, M. (1969) Determination of moisture and oil in the seed of winter rape (Brassica napus). Parts I II. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 20, 741-747. 

Europe is the major rapeseed producing area in the world. Rapeseed production increased three- to fourfold after World War II to alleviate the severe shortage of edible oils and to lessen their dependence on imported soybeans. This development has been highly beneficial in terms of a better balanced agriculture especially in Northern Europe. Most European production is of winter rape varieties which give higher yields (Table III), and modern oil extraction techniques ensure that oil yields from the seed are also high. Yield of oil from one hectare in Europe equals that from about 4 hectares in India. 

It was more difficult to develop low erucic acid cultivars for northern Europe because most of the rapeseed in this area is derived from winter rape. European cultivars were highly developed for seed and oil yield more time was required to grow a plant from seed to maturity because a cold treatment (vernalization) was required so that the plant could proceed from vegetative to reproductive development. Furthermore, a characteristic had to be transferred from summer rape to winter rape, a cross that produces a... 

The use of yellow seed as well as seed dehulUng could additionally lower the content of secondary plant snbstances, particularly phytic add and phenolics, bnt yeUow (winter rape) seed is not available, and dehuUing is not to be nsed in oil mills by now. 

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