Intergeneric crosses for the transfer of resistance to the beet cyst nematode from Raphanus sativus to Brassica napus

Abstract

The possibilities to transfer important traits and in particular resistance to the beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii, abbrev. BCN) from Raphanus sativus to Brassica napus were investigated. For these studies B. napus, R. sativus, the bridging hybrid ×Brassicoraphanus (Raparadish) as well as offspring of the cross ×Brassicoraphanus (Raparadish) ×B. napus were used. Reciprocal crosses between B. napus and R. sativus were unsuccessful, also with the use of embryo rescue. Crosses between ×Brassicoraphanus as female parent and B. napus resulted in a large number of F1 hybrids, whereas the reciprocal cross yielded mainly matromorphic plants. BC1, BC2 and BC3 plants were obtained from backcrosses with B. napus, which was used as the male parent. F1 hybrids and BC plants showed a large variation for morphology and male and female fertility. Cuttings of some F1 and BC1 plants, obtained from crosses involving resistant plants of ×Brassicoraphanus, were found to possess a level of resistance similar to that of the resistant parent. These results and indications for meiotic pairing between chromosomes of genome R with those of the genomes A and/or C suggest that introgression of the BCN-resistance of Raphanus into B. napus may be achieved. © 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers.