Breeding winter rapeseed for the temperate forest zone

The requirements and key characteristics for breeding winter rapeseed for the temperate/forest zone are formulated on the basis of agritechnical and climatic conditions. Assessment of the stock material discovered the sources of the valuable agronomic traits, such as winter hardiness, seed quality, and productivity. Freezing in a climate-controlled growth room was used along with geographically diverse intravariety hybridization for subsequent selection of the most winter-hardy specimen. Use of parental forms that provide both high yields and superb seed quality resulted in a number of varieties combining winter hardiness with good harvesting features. As a result, winter rapeseed cultivars yielding a capacity of 6.0–6.5 t of seeds ha^–1 and oil content of 44–48% with low glucosinolates and zero erucic acid content were created, thus opening vaster cultivation areas for the crop. Using the cultivars created by the All-Russia Williams Fodder Research Institute for further breeding facilitates a more sustainable and economically efficient oilseed production, expanding the cultivation areas of winter rapeseed in the European center of Russia, providing high-quality cooking oil and energy feed additives for animal husbandry.