Phenotypic variation in progenies from somatic hybrids between Brassica napus and Sinapis alba

A number of variant phenotypes, such as long siliques, high density of pods, increased seed number per pod and yellow seed color resembling Sinapis alba, were selected from intergeneric somatic hybrids between Brassica napus and Sinapis alba through successive backcrosses. Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum among 24 BCF4 lines was also tested by inoculation with mycelia, and four lines showed stronger resistance than the resistant rapeseed variety 'Zhongshuang 9'. Comparative anatomy studies on mature seed revealed that the seed coat pigments were mainly distributed in the palisade layer, which is considerably thinner in S. alba compared to B. napus. The area index of protein bodies in cotyledon cells was highest in S. alba, lowest in B. napus and intermediate in the intergeneric progenies. This study demonstrates that wide hybridization can enable exploitation of valuable trait diversity from S. alba for broadening the genetic basis for rapeseed breeding.