Genetic and genotype × environment interaction effects analysis for erucic acid content in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Genetic main effects and genotype × environment (GE) interaction effects for erucic acid content (EAC) in rapeseed(Brassica napus L.) were analyzed for two year data by using the genetic models and corresponding statistical approaches for quantitative traits of diploid plant seeds. Eight parents were included in adiallel mating design in two environments. It was found that the embryo, cytoplasmic and maternal main effects and their GE interaction effects could simultaneously affect the performance of EAC, especially for the cytoplasmic and maternal effects. Since the amount of genetic main effects from the expression of genes in different genetic systems accounted for about 64.1%of the total genetic effects, EAC of rapeseed was mainly controlled by genetic main effects. The total narrow-sense heritability for EAC was 83.6% with the general heritability being 51.9% and the interaction heritability being 31.7%. It was suggested by the predicted genetic effects, that Tower and Youcai 601 were better than other parents for reducing EAC in rapeseed quality breeding. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.