Re-synthesizing Brassica napus with clubroot resistance from C-genome

The Challenge

Canola originated from the hybridization between B. rapa and B. oleracea. Sources of clubroot resistance in A-genome derived from B. rapa are being used in Canada. However, resistance sources from C-genome B. oleracea with quantitative resistance have not.

The Project

Generate new and unique germplasms available to canola breeders for developing cultivars with a broad spectrum of resistance to clubroot in western Canada.

The Results

The project identified two B. oleracea lines ECD11 and JL04 that were highly resistant to new strains of clubroot found in Alberta. They also re-synthesized B napus lines using B. oleracea cross with a B. rapa T19 that carries three clubroot resistance genes, creating new lines that were highly resistant to all clubroot lines tested. One of these lines was distributed to canola breeders in breeding companies.

Grower Benefits

New, more durable clubroot resistant varieties could potentially become commercially available for Canadian canola farmers.