Pollen Genotype Effects on Seed Quality Traits in Winter Oilseed Rape

Abstract

The genetics of seed compounds is complex because seed quality traits might be exclusively determined by the genotype of the female parent or, depending on the genotype of the embryo, may also be affected by the genotype of the pollen parent. For many quality traits of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), the influence of the pollen parent is not well known. In this study, two male sterile lines (female parent) were pollinated by 10 genotypes (pollen parent) differing largely in seed quality. Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Northern Germany, with two replications in 1 yr. Pollen parents were sown in plots and 10 male sterile plants from each female parent were hand planted into the center of each plot. Seeds were harvested from pollen parents and from the interplanted female parents. Seeds were analyzed for oil, protein, and sinapic acid esters by near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy; for glucosinolate and tocopherol content by high‐performance liquid chromatography; and for fatty acid content by gas liquid chromatography. Earlier results were confirmed in that fatty acid composition is dependent on the embryo genotype and is therefore largely influenced by the pollen parent. Significant pollen parent effects were also observed for oil content, indole glucosinolate, sinapoylglucose, total sinapic acid ester, and γ‐tocopherol contents. The F1 seed quality was positively correlated with the pollen parent seed quality. In conclusion, not only the fatty acid composition but also other seed quality traits such as oil content are influenced by the genotype of the pollen parent. This should be considered when analyzing open pollinated plants.

Genetic effects and genotype × environment interactions govern seed oil content in Brassica napus L.

“…Embryo effect accounted for 21% of the genetic variance and cytoplasmic effect was detectable only at a very low level (Table 7). The present study confirms the earlier findings that the OC of F 1 seeds is mainly controlled by maternal effect, and xenia is weak [11, 13, 45]. Analysis of reciprocal backcrosses demonstrates that maternal, xenia, and cytoplasmic effect can all influence OC (Fig.…”

“…This result is similar to the finding of Hom et al [48]. Earlier studies reported that the OC of F 1 seeds was significantly lower than that of self-pollinated seeds when a HO female was crossed with a LO male, but it was significantly higher than that of self-pollinated seeds when a LO female was crossed with a HO male [11, 12].…”

“…However, the influence of GE should not be neglected, since GE accounted for 51.68% of the total genetic variance. Significant interactions have been observed between male or female and the environment [13]. GE is a critical factor for developing varieties with wide geographical adaptability and should be taken into account in genetic model and breeding process.…”

“…The strong influence of maternal effect on the OC of F 1 seeds is usually accompanied by weak xenia [11–13]. For maternal effect, several forms have been proposed, including the maternal inheritance of plastid, endosperm, seed coat, and maternal provision of nutrients [14, 15].…”

“…In addition, the storage substance in seed is determined not only by the availability of assimilates (source strength), but also by the intrinsic traits of the seed (sink strength), which are controlled by the embryo genotype [19]. Therefore, variation in OC of rapeseed may be governed by multiple genetic components, including embryo, cytoplasmic, xenia, maternal, and GE effects [11–13, 20, 21]. …”