Nitrogen Use Efficiency in a Genetically Diverse Set of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Abstract

Genetic variation in N uptake and utilization was investigated in a set of geneticaliy diverse oilseed rape {Brassica napus L.) genotypes, including hybrid, modern, and old cultivars and resynthesized lines. A total of 36 genotypes were grown at seven locations with two levels of N supply: no fertilization and optinnal fertilization (between 160 and 220 kg ha"^ N, depending on regional recomnnendations). The hybrid cultivars had the highest yields and the old land races and resynthesized lines had the lowest yields. This ranking of the various groups was consistent and independent of the N level. Genetic variation exists for both the uptake efficiency and the utilization efficiency. In the presence of low N levels, variation in N use efficiency is mainly due to differences in uptake efficiency whereas differences in utilization efficiency were more important in the presence of high N fertilization.

Nitrogen use efficiency in rapeseed. A review

“…In addition, the QTL values detected in Miro (2010) and Bouchet et al (2014) varied between the different trials, demonstrating a strong effect of other environmental factors on Nefficiency loci. In fact, direct selection appears to be a convenient strategy for NUE breeding in rapeseed (Kessel et al 2012), an observation that has also been reported for wheat (Brancourt-Hulmel et al 2005).…”

“…For instance, Kessel et al (2012) compared the seed yield responses of modern cultivars, hybrids, synthetic B. napus accessions, and old cultivars with changes in N conditions. That study found that selection for high yields indirectly enhanced NUE and that hybrids were the most productive genotypes whatever the N nutrition conditions.…”

“…That study found that selection for high yields indirectly enhanced NUE and that hybrids were the most productive genotypes whatever the N nutrition conditions. Several studies have already explored the genetic diversity of N-related rapeseed traits under field and controlled conditions, in both spring (Yau and Thurling 1986;Rengel 2005, 2006;Balint et al 2008a) and winter cultivars (Schulte auf'm Erley et al 2007;Berry et al 2010;Schulte auf'm Erley et al 2011;Kessel et al 2012;Ulas et al 2013;Lee et al 2015). Combining the genetic diversity of the spring and winter gene pools by using backcrosses, for example, may be able to enrich genetic variation for NUE improvement.…”

“…Hybrid cultivars are generally believed to be more N-efficient, especially under unfavorable conditions (Karamanos et al 2005;Karamanos et al 2006;Gehringer et al 2007;Kessel et al 2012). Koeslin-Findeklee et al (2014) compared the NUE of 11 inbred lines and seven hybrids over 2 years in field experiments and demonstrated the superiority of hybrids for both nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency, resulting in higher overall N efficiency.…”

Diverse concepts of breeding for nitrogen use efficiency. A review

“…To date much research on developing breeding strategies to improve NUE focuses on main crops including cereals, such as wheat and maize (e.g., Le Gouis et al 2000;Dawson et al 2011;Han et al 2015) and oilseed crops such as canola and oilseed rape (e.g., Balint and Rengel 2008;Berry et al 2010;Kessel et al 2012). NUE of leafy vegetables such as spinach (Chan-Navarrete et al 2014, lettuce (Kerbiriou et al 2014), or cabbage (Schulte auf'm Erley et al 2010) and NUE of non-leafy vegetable crops such as potato (Ospina et al 2014) receive less attention.…”