DEVELOPMENT OF LOW GLUCOSINOLATE MUSTARD

The objective of this study was to develop low glucosinolate mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.). This was accomplished through an interspecific cross between an Indian type 3-butenyl glucosinolate containing B. juncea selection and a "Bronowski-gene(s)" containing low glucosinolate B. campestris L. followed by backcrossing to the B. juncea parent. Seed of BC1F2 plants, and selected plants of BC1F3 and BC1F4 generations were analyzed for glucosinolate content by gas chromatography. Total aliphatic glucosinolate contents of individual BC1F2 plants ranged from 57 to 204 μmol g−1 meal. A single BC1F3 plant grown from the BC1F2 plant with the lowest glucosinolate content, identified as 1058, was found to contain less than 1 μmol g−1 meal of total aliphatic glucosinolates. The glucosinolate content in individual plants of the BC1F4 generation of plant 1058 ranged from 0.8 to 2.9 μmol g−1 meal. Field grown progeny of 1058 at three locations in 1987 and at one location in 1988 in Saskatchewan contained less than 10 μmol g−1 meal of total aliphatic glucosinolates. Therefore, the low glucosinolate characteristic of selection 1058 can be considered genetically stable. Progeny of plant 1058 had plant morphology and seed coat reticulation of B. juncea, but poor fertility (< 5 seeds per pod). The development of this low glucosinolate plant is an achievement that should allow the breeding of canola quality oilseed B. juncea mustard.Key words: Mustard, glucosinolate, Brassica juncea, interspecific cross