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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349682
Title: Phenotyping of Brassica napus for high oil content

Author
item Jaradat, Abdullah

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Multi-trait and multi-growth stage phenotyping may improve our ability to assess the dynamic changes in the B. napus phenome under spatiotemporal field conditions. A minimum set of phenotypic traits that can integrate ontogeny and architecture of Brassica napus L. is required for breeding and selection of high yielding and adapted genotypes to the short growing season of the upper Midwest, USA. Forward phenomics was instrumental in striking a balance between accuracy, timing and speed of capturing multi-level, spatiotemporal data at different scales of integration. Quantitative and categorical data digitally recorded, measured or scored on whole canopies, single plants, single leaves, and single siliques; and on random mature seed samples of 600 entries in a phenotyping nursery of B. napus were used to identify plant traits that can integrate the effects of time (ontogeny) and space (architecture) on oil yield, and to develop a multilevel-multitrait model based on field and laboratory characterization of phenotypic and agronomic data. Forward phenomics using differential canopy Infrared temperature, SPAD, NDVI, and plant fractal dimension for precise morphological and physiological phenotyping, was repeatable, accurate, and nondestructive method of characterizing functions and performance of B. napus throughout its ontogeny; while photo-thermal quotient provided quantitative assessment of the crop combined demand for temperature and light. To approximate rapeseed yield potential in the upper Midwest, genotypes with biomass >6.0 Mg/ha, seed >3.5 Mg/ha, oil >1.75 Mg/ha and protein yield >0.75 Mg/ha are envisioned. Modern varieties of B. napus are based on a relatively small portion of available genetic diversity and it is expected that the germplasm characterized in this study may positively contribute to enhancing genetic variation for key agronomic traits. A subset of adaptive traits was identified that can be combined in a selection index to develop a plant ideotype for B. napus.