Agronomic performance and seed quality of Ethiopian mustard in Saskatchewan

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is grown as an oilseed crop in Ethiopia. The agronomic performance and seed quality of 11 B. carinata lines were evaluated for 2 yr in field tests at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to asses the potential of Ethiopian mustard as an oilseed crop for the Canadian prairies. The B. carinata accessions were 5 d later flowering and 19 d later maturing than the B, napus cultivar Westar. Seed yields of B. carinata were comparable to those of B, napus in 1984, but were much lower than those of B. napus and B. juncea in 1985. Seed of B, carinata had higher protein and lower oil and crude fibre contents than that of B. napus and B. rapa. The fatty acid composition of the oil of B. carinata seed was typical for that of a high erucic acid Brassica oil. Allyl glucosinolate was the only alkenyl glucosinolate found in B. carinata seed meal. A comparison of near isogenic yellow and brown B. carinata lines indicated that, on average, yellow lines produced heavier seed (+0.4 g), higher oil (+23 g kg(-1)) and protein (+21 g kg(-1)) and lower crude fibre (-12 g kg(-1)) contents than brown lines. Correlation studies showed that seed weight was positively correlated with oil and protein and negatively correlated with fibre content. The results of this study indicated that none of the 11 lines of B. carinata tested was adapted for immediate production on the Canadian prairies. Earlier-maturing, higher-oil-content lines of B. carinata that produce low erucic acid and low glucosinolate seed must be developed before this species can be grown as an oilseed crop in Canada.