Acquirement of genetic resources of (Brassica napus ssp. napus L.) from different habitats in Slovenia

Abstract

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) naturally occurs in different habitats. Its presence outside the cultivation areas allows the spontaneous transfer of pollen during the flowering time. B. napus is self-pollinated plant species with naturally occurred variable cross-pollination level. Consequently, the out-crossing within species (crops, volunteer plants and feral populations) and between species (sexually-compatible relatives of the Brassicaceae family) is possible. Collection of plant genetic resources of B. napus in different habitats in the entire territory of Slovenia was conducted in a four-year period. In addition seeds of reference genotypes of oilseed and fodder rape, which have been grown in Slovenia since 1984, were also obtained. In the period from 2007 to 2010 a total of 334 rapeseed accessions were collected; 195 samples were feral populations, 66 samples originated from volunteer plants, 19 samples were obtained from production fields and 54 samples were reference genotypes. Details for each sample were recorded simultaneously in specific forms for field sampling. The collected accessions of rapeseed from different habitats over time will be used in further studies of gene flow between appeared forms of B. napus and their impact on genetic diversity of related plants in the Slovenian production area.