Diversity in Phenotypic Profiles in Landrace Populations of Vietnamese Rice: A Case Study of Agronomic Characters for Conserving Crop Genetic Diversity on Farm

Phenotypic variation of agronomic characters in aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) was analyzed in order to elucidate the genetic diversity of the populations of rice landraces. Thirteen populations in Namdinh province, in the Red River Delta of Vietnam, were studied in both of farmers fields and an experimental field. Only small differences were found in agronomic characters among the populations, including populations containing different varieties. Variations among the populations in the frequency distributions of several characters suggested different degrees of diversity among the populations even among populations with the same variety name. The phenotypic profiles of farmers fields were different from those in an experimental field suggesting the environmental differences between them. One variety cultivated in the Myloc district had different phenotypic characters from the other varieties in the Haihau district more clearly in the experimental field. Since the small phenotypic variation in each of farm might be due to the genetic drift and selection by the farmers, on farm conservation of the landraces of rice is considered to be under a force to decrease phenotypic diversity. The present study suggests that the targeting several farms with different phenotypic profiles contribute to the conservation of regional genetic diversity of the landraces of rice.     

Farmers' valuation and conservation of crop genetic resources

This paper focuses on the value of landraces (traditional and local crop varieties) to farmers in centers of agricultural diversity. Additional information on the factors contributing to the private value which farmers assign to landraces may help to identify a strategy for ensuring the conservation of the crop genetic resources (CGRs) which are embodied in landraces while at the same time minimizing the costs. Economic and ethnobotanical approaches for examining the value of landraces complement one another. A formal economic approach establishes a framework for quantitative analysis while ethnobotanical methods provide qualitative data for assessing the likelihood that particular farmers or farm sectors will maintain landraces. Our research synthesizes the two approaches in order to examine farmer selection of local wheat landraces in relation to that of modern varieties in three provinces in western Turkey. Multiple farmer concerns (e.g. yield, risk, quality), environmental heterogeneity, and missing markets contribute to the persistence of landraces. Household characteristics informing variety choice will also affect the household's perceptions of the importance and value of landraces.     

Trade-offs between on-farm varietal diversity and highly client-oriented breeding — a case study of upland rice in India

On-farm varietal diversity is now highest in marginal agricultural environments because, unlike the case in more favourable areas, modern varieties have not been a sufficiently attractive option for farmers to replace their landraces. However, the continued survival of landraces on farm is dependent on the continuing failure of plant breeding to provide better alternatives. Highly client-oriented breeding can produce suitable modern varieties for areas that were dominated by landraces. We examine here the case of the adoption of two upland rice varieties in three states in eastern India, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa, where our surveys had confirmed low adoption of modern varieties in the upland ecosystem. The two new upland varieties were readily accepted by farmers who rapidly adopted them on large proportions of their land. On-farm diversity is maintained by the need to trade-off among varieties but once a variety with overall superiority was found this incentive was removed. The new varieties from the client-oriented breeding did not have weaknesses that farmers had to trade-off against their landraces so they were more likely to replace them. They also replaced older modern varieties. Farmers had previously maintained them along with landraces because they had to trade-off the higher yield of Kalinga III against the more stable yield of landraces or the higher yield of Vandana against the higher gain quality of the landraces. Only mean count per household could be used to test the significance of the differences between individual years. In all states, this revealed a significant reduction in landrace diversity with the adopting farmers when the addition of the two new varieties was not considered. Trends across years for mean varietal count, total count and Shannon–Wiener index showed a significant decline in Orissa, irrespective of whether the two new varieties were included in the analysis or not. In Jharkhand there was a significant decline only for mean count when the new varieties were not included. In Orissa, it was possible to test if rare landraces were as readily replaced as more common ones. Landrace replacement was unmitigated by increasing rarity yet the most rare landraces have the highest priority for genetic conservation. Some landraces were completely replaced by the farmers in the sample despite a diverse variety portfolio being a risk-reducing strategy in a region where there is a high risk of crop failure. There was little environmental heterogeneity in the marginal, drought-prone areas to slow this decline. The new varieties had an impact on the farming system because sometimes farmers brought additional upland into cultivation. They also introduced these varieties into more favourable, medium land. The strategy of releasing two new upland varieties met with some success in maintaining diversity.     

Differentiation and structure of an Italian landrace of celery (Apium graveolens L.): inferences for on farm conservation

The “Sedano Nero di Trevi” (Black Celery from Trevi) is a landrace grown in Umbria (Italy) at risk of extinction. A morpho-physiological and molecular characterisation of the landrace and a detailed investigation of its cultural and cultivation context were carried out with the aim of facilitating a request for a quality mark, implement in situ (on farm) conservation schemes that are being developed in Italy and register the landrace in the European common catalogue of ‘conservation varieties’. These actions can help the landrace survive. Six farmer populations of the landrace and four élite varieties were characterised for thirteen morpho-physiological traits and nine AFLP primer combinations. The “Sedano Nero” farmer populations were better performers than élite varieties for important agronomic traits, such as yield, under the local agronomic conditions. Both morpho-physiological traits and molecular markers clearly distinguished the landrace from the élite cultivars. In addition, a structure was detected in the landrace with farmer populations being characterised by specific alleles. These results are discussed in connection with the local seed system and possible in situ conservation strategies for landraces.     

A participatory evaluation of improved cowpea cultivars in the Guinea and Sudan savanna zones of north east Nigeria

A number of improved varieties have been developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), combining diverse plant type with resistance or tolerance to several diseases, insect pests, and parasitic weeds and possessing other good agronomic traits. Trials were established with farmers to evaluate several new IITA-bred cowpea varieties on-farm in a process of participatory varietal selection. Central to this has been a ‘mother-daughter’ approach with researcher-managed ‘mother’ trials and farmer-managed ‘daughter’ trials in order to combine researchers' and farmers' criteria in evaluation of new varieties. In both set of trials, new varieties IT89KD-391, IT97K-499-35, and IT89KD-288 were favoured by farmers because of their high grain and fodder yields. Farmers have also shown interest in the continuous use of a local variety Kanannado Brown. It is suitable for relay intercropping; having a creeping habit, and the ability to smother weeds. The brown seeds fetch higher market prices. The implications are that improved cowpea varieties should be suitable for relay-intercropping and controlling weeds, be brown in colour, have large grain size, be pest resistant as well as give high yields of grain and fodder. At the same time, it is important that the farmer's criteria should be considered in breeding and varietal selection programmes.     

Characterization of a flint maize (Zea mays L. convar. mays) Italian landrace: I. Morpho-phenological and agronomic traits

Maize (Zea mays L.) landraces have the highest genetic variation and adaptation to the natural and anthropological environment where they have evolved. Surveying both qualitative and quantitative morphological traits of existing landraces may be useful in maintaining their genetic diversity and preserving them from genetic erosion. Our research deals with the morpho-phenological and agronomic characterization of a flint maize landrace, named 'Nostrano di Storo', still grown in an inland hilly environment in the low valley of Chiese River in Trentino, North-Eastern Italy. The majority of plants from twenty field populations proved to belong, with few exceptions (NSt2, NSt9, NSt11), to a single population. It means that the plant material long grown in this area and maintained by local farmers through yearly selection forms a single landrace within which some populations (i.e. NSt1, NSt3, NSt4, NSt7, NSt10, NSt18, NSt19, NSt20) could be considered as most representative and taken as 'core'. This is supported by the fact that the genetic variability was much higher within than between field populations: half of the plant and ear traits investigated did not show any significant difference between populations whereas all traits but two showed highly significant differences within populations. Selection carried out over the years by each farmer according to his own criteria produced little genetic differentiation within the original population. Gene flow among farmer populations, most likely occurred through both pollen dispersion to neighboring cultivated fields and seed exchange among farmers, may help to explain the low genetic differentiation. This information is useful for both planning conservation and recognizing the landrace as a unique germplasm source of specific geographic origin.     

Farmers’ adoption of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids and the persistence of landraces in Southwest China: implications for policy and breeding

This paper examines changes in the distribution of maize hybrids and landraces in the mountainous areas of southwest China over 1998–2008, farmers’ reasons for cultivar adoption and the implications for national policies in relation to seed production and breeding, based on baseline data and a survey conducted in Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou. The study traced the dynamic changes in the adoption of hybrids and landraces in farmers’ fields, explored how individual farmer’s choices can influence local landrace distribution, and investigated the space for conducive policy and innovative action for on-farm conservation of maize genetic resources. The research showed that although there is strong farmers’ interest in accessing modern maize hybrids, farmers also express strong reasons for maintaining at least some of the landraces that satisfy local agronomic context and social preferences. Farmers recognized that hybrids have a number of advantages but they also indicated some disadvantages of the current available hybrids e.g. with respect to seed quality, local adaptability, taste and cost of seeds, but also lack of information on the performances of the new hybrids. Based on farmers’ reasoning and experiences, the requirements have been identified for improving yield combined with local preferences (agronomic, cultural and socio-economic). The paper concludes by identifying options for how China might seek to develop resilient seed systems for smallholder farmers in poor areas, under changing climatical conditions and volatile markets. Participatory Plant Breeding is among the options considered for bringing farmers’ needs into conservation and breeding strategies for improving local adaptation.     

Genetic basis of long shelf life and variability into Penjar tomato

Penjar tomato is a varietal type cultivated in northeast Spain that characteristically has a long shelf life, small fruit, and wide morphological variability among cultivars. To determine the genetic basis for the long shelf life in the Penjar varietal type and to describe the genetic background and agromorphologic characteristics of the group, we studied 27 Penjar accessions representative of the entire range of variation in traits related to agronomic behavior, fruit morphology, and sensory quality. We found that the long shelf life of Penjar (mean: 126.8 days) is due to the ripening mutant alcobaça (alc), and the molecular basis of this mutation is the replacement of thymine by adenine in position 317 of the coding sequence of the NAC.NOR gene; thus, alcobaça (alc) is an allele of non-ripening (nor). The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) study found 18.07% polymorphic loci within the Penjar varietal type, which is higher than usual in landraces. The variation in agronomic and morphologic traits between accessions was also very high; thus, the heterogeneity of the Penjar group probably results from the introduction of the allele alc in distinct landraces. Our results also show that in germplasm containing the alc mutation shelf life is negatively correlated with fruit size (weight, width, length, and number of locules); thus, the predominance of small fruit within the varietal type is probably the result of this trait being dragged along in the selection for long shelf life.     

Changes in the diversity and geographic distribution of cultivated millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties in Niger between 1976 and 2003

Changes in the diversity of landraces in centres of diversity of cultivated plants need to be assessed in order to monitor and conserve agrobioversity—a key-element of sustainable agriculture. This notably applies in tropical areas where factors such as increased populations, climate change and shifts in cropping systems are hypothesized to cause varietal erosion. To assess varietal erosion of staple crops in a country subjected to various anthropogenic and natural environmental changes, we carried out a study based on a comparison of the diversity of pearl millet and sorghum varieties collected in 79 villages spanning the entire cereal-growing zone of Niger over a 26 year period (1976–2003). For these two crops, the number, name and type of varieties according to important traits for farmers were considered at different spatial scales (country, region, village) at the two collection dates. The results confirmed the high diversity of millet and sorghum varieties in Niger. No erosion of varietal diversity was noted on a national scale during the period covered. Some changes were observed but were limited to the geographical distribution of certain varieties. This highlights that farmers’ management can preserve the diversity of millet and sorghum varieties in Niger despite recurrent and severe drought periods and major social changes. It also indicates that rainfed cereal cropping systems in Niger should remain to be based on millet and sorghum, while reinforcing farmers’ seed systems.     

Genetic erosion of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in the centre of diversity, Ethiopia

The Ethiopian region is characterised by a wide range of agro-climatic conditions, which accounted for the enormous resources of agro-biodiversity that exist in the country. The most important of these resources is the immense genetic diversity of the various crop plants in the country. Of these, one of the most on farm genetically diverse crops is sorghum. Since the advent of formal breeding in particular after green revolution, genetic diversity of most crops has been threatened worldwide. In order to assess on farm genetic erosion (GE), various research methodologies were employed. These were focused group interviews with 360 farmers, on farm monitoring and participation with 120 farmers, key informant interviews with 60 farmers and development agents, and semi-structured interviews with 250 farmers. Besides, diversity fairs were done with over 1200 farmers. Notwithstanding the complexity of assessing GE, it was assessed by various methods; namely, by temporal method (comparing 1960 and 2000 collections), area method, and semi-structured interview method at individual, community or wereda level and causes of varietal loss from other various perspectives. Farmers perceived GE as the reduced importance of the variety as indicated by lower proportion in the varietal portfolio. The five most important factors for varietal loss at individual farmers’ level were reduced benefit from the varieties, drought, Khat expansion, reduced land size and introduction of other food crops respectively. GE was not affected by wealth groups and ecological regions. Farmers do not make simple replacement as a strategic mechanism for genetic resources management. GE at regional level was quantified by temporal and spatial method. There was a complementation not rivalry between farmer varieties (FVs) and improved varieties (IVs). The whole process of GE is explained by three models, namely: Bioecogeographic enhanced genetic erosion model, Farmer induced genetic erosion model and Farmer-cum-bioecogeographic genetic erosion model. As aforementioned, sorghum genetic erosion behaviour is completely different from other food crops such as tetraploid wheat. The prediction in the late seventies that complete erosion of FVs by IVs by the end of the eighties, the principle of GE that competition between IVs and FVs, favours the former and results in the replacement of the latter is not valid in the context of sorghum in Ethiopia. Hence, maintenance of the on farm genetic diversity of sorghum is a reality but GE is rhetoric.     

Evaluation of genetic variation and grain quality of old bread wheat varieties introduced in north-western Italian environments

The increasing consumers’ request for new speciality wheat derivatives and the possible widening of marketing opportunities is giving to both landraces and old varieties, new chance of on farm survival providing a low cost way to safeguard these important genetic resources. A farmer’s consortium acting in north-western Italy, is attempting the introduction of some old bread wheat landraces in marginal environments of Piedmont and Liguria regions. The reason of this attempt is the local market demand of old bread varieties suitable for the preparation of traditional cakes and biscuits. Three Italian bread wheat landraces, a mixture of durum and bread wheat landraces and three modern varieties were evaluated. The entries were cropped in Val Borbera and Val d’Aveto (Piedmont and Liguria region, respectively) in the same growing season (2009–2010). The high variation of gliadin profile detected within the landraces indicates that all have retained the genetic heterogeneity typical of the old wheat landraces. In consequence of the health-promoting effects of whole grain consumption, eleven nutritional and technological traits of whole flours were investigated. The analysis of collected data revealed appreciable differences among the flours obtained from the landraces and the modern varieties. These differences can be mainly attributed to the intensive breeding carried out on bread wheat in the last century. The results of this study suggest that the old bread wheat landraces could have good chance of survive on farm when their characteristics fulfil the requirements of local communities.     

Performance of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces from Spain in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Environments

Ninety-five common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from Spain were evaluated in three different environments in northern Spain for their agronomic performance and seed quality. Significant differences among landraces were found for 14 quantitative traits related to phenology, yield and its components, and seed quality traits. Environmental effects were significant for all traits evaluated except for seeds pod^?1, seed width/thickness, seed weight, and seed water absorption. Landrace by environment interactions were significant for all traits except for seeds pod^?1 and seed water absorption. Selection of new breeding lines for agronomic performance and seed quality within landraces should be reliable because many of them are mixture of lines. Some heirloom varieties belonging to the types faba, caparrón,riñón,ganxet and tolosana had the best performances regarding to seed quality and yield. Principal component analysis revealed differences among environments affecting the performance of the bean landraces. Variation in the landraces seems to be organized in a different way in each one of the test environments, therefore, low plasticity and specific adaptation of Spanish bean landraces to different environments is derived from this study. Some landraces, especially those large and white seeded should be an useful resource for sustainable farming systems in different biogeographical areas and a worthy germplasm for the genetic improvement of agronomic value and seed quality.     

Diversity characterisation of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) landraces for their on-farm (in situ) safeguard and use in breeding programs

Brassica oleracea L. is an important species that originated in the eastern Mediterranean area. From there, B. oleracea L. subsp. capitata (L.) DC. convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. italica Plenck (broccoli) was introduced into Italy where considerable diversification took place. Several landraces of broccoli, which are highly appreciated by local people for their organoleptic traits, are presently cultivated in both large fields and home gardens. In this study, 10 landraces, 4 synthetics derived from landraces and 4 of the most used F1 hybrids were characterised for morpho-physiological and molecular traits with the principal aim of feeding information into the landrace protection schemes being developed in Italy and into breeding programs. The landraces and derived synthetics are well differentiated from each other and from the F1 hybrids for important agronomic and genetic traits. The principal component analysis based on analysis of morpho-physiological traits showed that overall the 2 main components accounted for 67.74 % of the total variation. The neighbour joining tree, based on 23 microsatellite markers, grouped accessions into 2 main clusters. One includes one synthetic variety and 2 F1 hybrids, while the other cluster includes all the other accessions. There were also several sub clusters. Most of the materials examined showed within-accession diversity. The information gathered in this study can be used to protect landraces through the schemes presently being developed in Italy and to register them in the European common catalogue of “conservation varieties”. In situ (on-farm) conservation of landrace diversity is discussed with reference to landrace use.     

Market-based incentives for conserving diversity on farms: the case of rice landraces in Central Tarai,Nepal

Market-based incentives are one means of encouraging farmers to grow landraces that are also of social value, thereby contributing to the conservation of crop genetic diversity on farms – and in principle, the cheapest. This study uses a participatory, market systems approach supplemented by baseline data from an ongoing project to analyze markets for rice landraces and modern varieties in Nepal. Nepal is located in the area of origin and diversity for Asian rice. With the exception of traditional Basmati rice (which is of high aromatic quality), most rice landraces are traded through small-scale informal channels. Traders earn higher profits handling modern varieties than landraces, with the exception of Basmati, which competes with modern varieties. The superior consumption qualities of Basmati are valued in markets, but conserving these landraces may not have great social value. Furthermore, farmers who grow Basmati are clearly better off than those who do not. Findings raise questions about the role of market-based incentives for conserving landraces on farms, the costs entailed in establishing a structure to generate them, and about efficiency vs. equity considerations in the design of conservation programs.     

Agronomic performance and grain quality of sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.) landraces and improved varieties grown in a Mediterranean environment

Sesame seeds are an excellent food and non-food raw material, for which there is a consolidated deficit in Italy and in other European Union countries. For this reason, a 2-years experiment was conducted in Sicily to compare the agronomic performance (phenology, morphological and productive traits) and grain quality (oil and its main constituents, protein of defatted flour, fibre) of three landraces, one of Turkish origin and two Sicilian (“Ispica” and “Modica”), and two improved varieties (‘Pachequino’ and ‘Yori 77’). The landraces evidenced earliness (115 days) and the greater height of insertion of first capsule (0.52 m), whereas the variety ‘Pachequino’ was the most productive (3.5 t ha^?1). Turkish and “Ispica” landraces and ‘Yori 77’ variety provided seeds with greater lipid (54 %, on average) and protein contents (44 % on defatted flour, on average). ‘Pachequino’ and both Sicilian landraces produced seeds richer in fibre fractions. As regard to oil quality, the oleic acid/linoleic acid was found balanced (about 1) for Turkish landrace, and it decreased for the other cultivars reaching the lowest value for ‘Pachequino’. “Modica” had higher quantity of unsaponifiable matter (1.98 %) in the oil, whereas ‘Yori 77’ had the maximum concentration of phytosterols (5532.8 mg kg^?1). Policosanol fraction prevailed in oil of “Ispica” (205.8 mg kg^?1). Moreover, there was variability in the fatty acid, sterol and policosanol compositions with differences among the cultivars. Research provide information to exploit sesame within agrosystems under Mediterranean climates, and may be a starting point for breeding activity to enhance crop productivity and grain quality.     

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) clone selection by farmers and their cultural practices in southern Ethiopia

Enset, Ensete ventricosum, is a crop that contributes to food security for more than 20 % of Ethiopia’s population. One clone never fulfills all the ecological and social requirements and hence farmers maintain a diverse range of enset cultivars on their farm. The objective of this work was to assess morphological and use value related characterization and document the indigenous knowledge of farmers on classification, cultivation and utilization of enset. A total of 280 farm households in seven zones were surveyed using individual household interviews. The observed traits showed low to high levels of variability among enset clones with a Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H′) value of 0.154–0.827 for bulla (extracted starch) quality and midrib color, respectively. Moreover, the overall H′ mean of 0.399 confirmed the existence of low to medium levels of phenotypic variation. The mean squares due to genotypes were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) for all the quantitative traits studied, suggesting the presence of substantial genetic variability among the 165 enset clones. Kocho (fermented starch) yield had significant positive correlation with bulla quality and plant vigor. Knowledge of farmers’ practices is currently used to validate agronomic innovations and inform the setting up of a network of phenotype collections managed by farmers.     

Agromorphological genetic diversity of Spanish traditional melons

The variability of 62 Spanish landraces (and two hybrids used as reference) was described by analysing 39 morphological traits and eight SSR makers. Results showed that 81% of the examined genetic pool belonged to the inodorus type. Spanish traditional melons presented fruits from flattened and globular shapes to elliptical. Rind colour varied from pale green, almost white and yellow to dark green and almost black. Rind texture varied from smooth to intensely wrinkled. Spanish landraces also had larger fruits (average fruit weight ~2.6 kg) and longer vegetative cycles (117 days to maturity) compared to landraces from other geographical origins. Farmers seem to have focused on selection towards large fruits, which usually requires the longest production cycles. Fruit colour, size and shape seemed to have been determinant in varietal selection. Hierarchical clustering resulted in two main groups (climacteric and non-climacteric). The largest group was composed of 60 accessions of non-climacteric types, which includes the most demanded by national markets, ‘Piel de Sapo’, which fruits were characterized by an ovate or elliptical shape, a green rind, big spots and stains distributed over the whole fruit, a rounded blossom end shape and a very pointed stem end shape. The study demonstrates that the Spanish genetic pool is much more diverse. Wide variability was found in a geographical area with vast historical importance in melon farming. These evaluations has allowed the identification of several uniform groups of non-climacteric cultivars (‘Piel de Sapo’, ‘Mochuelo’, ‘Tendral’, Yellow/White, Winter and Black groups) and a set of highly variable climacteric ones. However, many accessions with singular properties remain unclassified, demonstrating the morphological variability of the studied collection. Melons in Spain have wide variability together with a vast historical importance on farms. Some fruit types, or at least some morphological characters reflected by painters during centuries, have reached the present. The present study confirmed the need to preserve these irreplaceable genetic resources and continue their study and evaluation for valuable traits which could enhance farmer’s opportunities for entering new markets.     

Agronomic evaluation of testcrosses of drought-tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines using different selection index methods

The present study aims at identifying potentially high-yielding testcross maize hybrids using different selection indices that consider agronomic traits other than grain yield alone. Forty-one (41) testcross hybrids developed from 20 elite drought-tolerant maize inbred lines and two inbred testers plus three hybrid checks were evaluated in the rainy seasons of 2013 and 2014 in Ogbomoso in the derived savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria. Hybrids were planted in each year in 11 × 4 lattices with two replications. Testcross hybrids and checks exhibited significant differences for all measured traits except ear height, husk cover and number of ears per plant. Grain yield of hybrids and checks averaged over the 2 years varied from 3117 to 8393 kg ha^?1 with a mean of 5935 kg ha^?1. Top 11 hybrids produced vigorous plants, each yielding >7000 kg ha^?1. Base index and multivariate index methods identified EXL11 × 9071 whereas base index and Smith–Hazel selection index methods identified EXL18 × 9071 as superior hybrids at 5% selection intensity. These hybrids will be considered for advanced breeding program and release to farmers as high-yielding drought-tolerant hybrid maize varieties in the increasingly drought-prone derived savanna agroecology of Nigeria.     

Evaluation of yield and agronomic traits and their genetic variation in 488 global collections of Brassica napus L.

It is important to evaluate yield and agronomic traits when selecting for elite lines in Brassica napus L. In this study, 488 global collections of B. napus L. were evaluated for yield and agronomic traits during two consecutive years under growing conditions in central China. A series of phenotypic data for yield and agronomic traits were obtained. Large variations in yield and agronomic traits were found among these accessions, making selection possible for these characters. Chinese accessions, in general, tended to have higher plot yield (POY), higher seed yield per plant (PY), higher thousand-seed weight (TSW), more seeds per silique (SS), and fewer siliques per plant (PS) than foreign accessions. Comparing winter, semi-winter, and spring accessions, semi-winter accessions tended to have the highest POY, highest PY, highest TSW, most SS and fewest PS. Genotypic variation for TSW accounted for 71.23 % of the total variation, and it was the highest for all 12 of the phenotypic traits. Significant correlations were observed between different traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that significant variation among the traits with the first four principal components could explain 49.8 % of the total variation. Three major groups (winter, spring and semi-winter oilseed rape accessions) could be distinguished when projecting the accessions onto the first two PCAs. The information on variations in yield and agronomic traits detected in this study provided useful parents for rapeseed breeding. Moreover, the phenotypic data on yield and agronomic traits obtained may be used in our subsequent genome-wide association studies for B. napus.