QTL Analysis of Brassica Napus in Dryland and Irrigated Conditions to Evaluate Biofuel Characteristics.

Increasing fuel prices coupled with declining supplies of fossil fuels have affirmed the need for alternative energy strategies both in the United States and globally. Brassica napus is a leading candidate in the search for oilseed biofuels, having received much recent attention by agriculturalists and breeders due to its high oil content and potential to be used onsite as a biofuel for farm equipment. However, production of a regionally-adapted variety of B. napus would be necessary in Colorado where drought tolerance is a key trait. The objective of this study is to map and analyze yield and yield components as well as plant morphology and maturity characteristics in B. napus using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and statistical analyses. A new population of 540 doubled haploid B. napus lines, constructed from a cross between an annual and biennial variety, was grown in two replicates of a row-column design under dryland and irrigated conditions in Fort Collins, Colorado in summer 2010. Detailed results will be presented and discussed.