Inbreeding and selection in swedes (Brassica napus ssp rapifera)

Summary The effect of inbreeding and selection within the old swede cultivar Scotia was examined. A decline in yield was shown by lines produced by selfing from the highest yielding progenies selected after open pollination. It is assumed that these progenies were from heterozygous plants. The yield of two groups of lines did not decline and from these, after a second generation of selfing, eight lines were selected with a mean dry matter yield 10 per cent higher than Scotia.Now part of Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, Scotland.