AGRONOMIC SEED PRODUCTION AND OIL QUALITY EVALUATION OF VARIOUS RAPESEED GENOTYPES GROWN UNDER SEMI-ARID CLIMATIC CONDITION

Rapeseed is important oil seed crop of the world. Increase in the demand of edible oil due to the ever-increasing population has threatened the sufficient availability of edible oil. For this purpose, a two-year field experiment was carried out at experimental farm of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Sub-Campus Layyah-Pakistan for characterization of rapeseed germplasm in production and seed oil quality semi-arid climatic condition. Twenty rapeseed genotypes viz., Holya-401, Faisal canola, AARI-Canola, Hop-09, RBN-04722, Panjab Sarsoon, RBN-11049, Mulki, PARC-Canola hybrid, Pakola, Canola Raya, Con-II, 19-H, Durr-e-Nifa, RBN-03046, Shiralee, Dunckled, Bulbul, Nifa Gold and Abasin-95 were used in experiment and repeated for two consecutive years 2018-19 and 2019-20. Statistical analysis showed significant (p<0.05) differences among rapeseed genotypes in relation to their morphological attributes and yield contributing traits. Results revealed that genotype 'Dunkled' produced the higher number of seeds per siliqua per plant, biological and seed yield while higher oil seed quality was observed in genotype 'Nifa-Gold'. To conclude genotype 'Dunckled' and 'Nifa- Gold' have ontogenically being more plastic performed under semi-arid climate conditions. Variability in rapeseed genotypes may be a good approach for breeding programs to obtain good production and oil quality under various environmental conditions.

Automated summary

Rapeseed is an important oil seed crop globally, and the increasing demand for edible oil has raised concerns about its availability. A two-year field experiment was conducted to study the rapeseed germplasm in semi-arid climatic conditions, and significant differences were observed among genotypes regarding their morphological attributes and yield-contributing traits. The genotype 'Dunkled' exhibited higher seed yield, while 'Nifa-Gold' had better oil quality. These findings suggest that rapeseed genotypes with variability can be advantageous for breeding programs to achieve high production and quality under diverse environmental conditions.