The Application of Ooubled Haploid Plants to Population ... - MSpace

History of Canola
Produdion of Brassia rapa was recorded in India as long ago as 2000 BC. B.
rapa had the widest distribution of al1 of the oilseed Brassias which has led to
discrepancy surrounding its centre of origin which has been reported in Asia, Europe
and the Mediterranean (McNaughton, 1976). Botanical, l inguistic and historical
research have identified Europe as a centre of diversity for 8. rapa (Reiner et al.,
1995). An interspecific cross between the two diploid species, 8. rapa and B.
oleracea, is thought to have ocairred in the region of southern Europe where they
coexisted ta produœ the amphidiploid B. napus (Downey and RBbbelen, 1989). B.
rapa and B. napus are the main Brassica oilseeds grown in Canada. The relationship
of these species with ûther Brassicas is illustrated in U's triangle in Figure 2.1 (U,
1935).
Oilseed rape was introduced to Canada as B. rapa from Poland in 1936 (Bell,
1982). B. napus had been grown in Canada earlier as a forage crop and was
introduced from Argentina. During World War II rapeseed oil was used as a marine
engine lubricant after which its demand dropped. The desire to have a domestic supply
of an oil suitable for human consumption and a meal for animal feed in Canada led to
increased interest in oilseed rape production. Research led to the development of
varieties with reduced levels of enicic acid which was found to be poorly digested and
reduce growth in experimental animals (Sauer and Kramer, 1983). The first low-erucic