Genetic Dissection and Molecular Approaches of Root Morphology and Flowering Time in Canola.

Winter type and spring type canola exhibit completely opposite phenomena in terms of root characteristics and flowering time. In this study, we determined the inheritance of root vigor and flowering time in segregating population derived from winter and spring type crosses and reciprocal crosses grown in the greenhouse. We evaluated 717 segregating F₂ individuals for root vigor and identified a trigenic effect controlling this trait. A single dominant gene was found to be responsible for flowering time. Both results were confirmed by data obtained from a backcross population of 217 plants. No maternal inheritance was identified after evaluating the reciprocal crosses. In addition, a correlation study was performed among yield and different yield attributing characteristics. Yield was positively correlated with number of pods per plant, pod length and seeds per pod. Root vigor was also positively correlated with days to flowering. Linkage analysis and Quantitative Trait Loci mapping are in progress.