Inheritance of progoitrin and total aliphatic glucosinolates in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L)

Inheritance of progoitrin and total aliphatic glucosinolate concentrations were investigated in oilseed rape, using parental, F1, F2 and first backcross generations, derived from a cross between resynthesized spring rape and a double-low spring rape cultivar. Progoitrin and total aliphatic glucosinolate concentrations were measured in mature seeds of single plants from these generations, using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. For progoitrin, an additive/dominance model of gene action adequately explained the variation among the generation means, but for total aliphatic glucosinolate concentration, nonallelic interactions were also detected. Predictions based on estimates of the genetic parameters indicated that recombinant inbred lines, rather than second cycle hybrids, appeared to offer a better prospect of reducing glucosinolate concentrations in this material. Estimates of the minimum number of genes controlling these two characters were broadly in line with the number required for the known stages of their biosynthesis.