Genetic Diversity Underlying Differences
in Minerals Content in Brassica napus
1
1
Hussein Gherli , Guy Barker & Graham Teakle
2
1- Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, Warwick University, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
2- Warwick Crop Centre, University of Warwick, Wellesbourne CV35 9EF, UK
Introduction: Oil seed rape requires addition of high levels of nitrogen fertiliser to produce the optimal yield per
hectare. Not all the nitrogen applied is however transferred into the seeds. If we can increase this then we should
be able to decrease the amounts required hence increasing the efficiency of production.
30 OSR varieties grown under field conditions (OREGIN
field trial 2010/2011 at Rothamsted Research) were
analysed. 12 mineral content has estimated following at 2
different growth stages (seed development stage GS6,2-6,3
where seeds are green and in a full size, and harvest stage)
and for different plant tissues of root and stem.
Different varieties behave differently under
the same levels of fertiliser. This picture shows
three different varieties. The differences in
appearance can be striking. So can their
nitrogen requirements.
0.55
0.50
GS 6,2-6,3
0.45
Harvest
Nitrogen Components 1 & 2
0.40
24
26
17
0.30
14
0.25
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
Component 2
20
0.20
25
13
18
0.1
Component 2
N%
6
16
0.2
0.35
Spring OSR
Swede
Winter OSR
29
15
227
31 22
21
-0.0
3
19
1
30
28
4
8
23
5
-0.1
10
11
-0.2
9
7
-0.3
Variety
12
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
Figure 1. Nitrogen content diversity of tap root of
different varieties of Brassica napus at two different
stages of growth.
-0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
Component
Component11
Figure 2. Principle Component Analysis of Nitrogen
content diversity of different varieties of Brassica napus.
Warwick Crop Centre
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/wcc