Assessment of seed germination and seedling performance of spring canola at low temperatures

The Challenge

Current canola cultivars commercially available have low tolerance to cold at the beginning of their life cycle. This challenges farmers to seed at a time that is warm enough to avoid damage, but not too late to risk maturity and quality.

The Project

Evaluate the effects of low temperatures and frost on seedling germination and performance of Brassica napus, Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea – and to identify markers linked to alleles for improved cold tolerance to screen large canola populations.

The Results

Location variation in cold spring soil year to year masked the progress gained. Increased understanding of the physiology and genomics of low temperature tolerance in spring canola will help breeding programs and other projects greatly. All lines were successfully ranked (Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea and Brassica juncea), along with all the genotypes with high and low tolerance to low temperatures were screened.

Grower Benefits

Further research to identify genes that can be inserted into high producing canola varieties are required – but successful insertion of cold hardiness into commercially available varieties would allow growers to plant earlier in the year without risk of cold/frost damage, extend window of herbicide application, and maximize yields.