Towards a full understanding of canola germination and seedling performance

Project Summary

Seed and seedling vigor analysis in semi-winter and winter type B. napus show stand establishment related traits that have a range in heritability from low to very high. Furthermore, the traits are multigenic with varying number of regions across the A and C-genomes controlling the various characteristics.

This research aims to acquire further data on seed vigor, storage protein and soluble carbohydrate contents through seed vigor screening on the NAM (nested association mapping) population under controlled and field conditions and profiling in order to improve seed and seedling vigor. Then the relationship between seed storage proteins and seed vigor plus dormancy potential will be explored for the first time in spring B. napus.

The objectives of this research are:

1. Seed vigor screening on the NAM population under controlled and field conditions. NAM populations will be assessed using respiration measurements to measure oxygen consumption, with field trials utilizing manual and image-based emergence counts.
2. Soluble carbohydrate profiling of canola seeds – Carbohydrate profiles will be determined using chromatographic analysis, with further spectrophotometric analysis on simple sugars.
3. Genotype (G) x Environment (E) x Management (M) protein profiling – Cruciferin and napin content will be assessed using high-resolution electrophoresis on field-grown seedlots, and previous stand establishment traits will be assessed for any relationships between seed quality and germination traits. Multi-site field trials will assess the influence of cruciferin/napin content on various physiological features.
4. Imaging of cross sections for seed microstructures using Canadian Light Source imaging.
5. ‘Seed library’ database curation, genotypic stand establishment modelling and QTL mapping of stand establishment traits.