Variation within Progeny Derived From Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybridization Between Brassicaceae Species.

Intergeneric and interspecific hybridization techniques have been used by plant breeders for many years to introgress desirable traits into agronomically adapted germplasm and to widen genetic variability.  Parents from Brassica napus, B. carinata, B. juncea, Sinapis alba and S. arvensis were used in a breeding program in an attempt broaden the genetic base in Brassicaceae, and to incorporate desirable characteristics from these species into new cultivars. Interspecific and intergeneric hybridization in tandem with ovary culture, embryo rescue and colchicine-induced chromosome doubling techniques were used to produce fertile progeny from several inter species cross combinations. Progeny from these intergeneric and interspecific hybrid crosses were grown in a glasshouse experiment and evaluated for a wide range of morphological and seed yield characteristics and for plant tissue and seed meal glucosinolate content.  Results from this study will be discussed in relationship to using these interspecific and intergeneric crosses techniques to widen the genetic base of desirable traits in canola and mustard cultivar development.