Oilseed rape

Oilseed rape, is an important arable rotation crop grown for its edible vegetable oils, animal feed and biodiesel. Our research into oilseed rape aims to improve resilience to pests, disease and climate change.

Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Research

Since the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, which were used to control cabbage stem flea beetle, oilseed rape yield has halved. The reduced ability to control these pests has resulted in less land being dedicated to the growth of oilseed rape by farmers.

Dr Rachel Wells’ group  are researching the susceptibility of different varieties of oilseed rape to cabbage stem flea beetles as part of a large collaboration to find solutions to tackle this devastating pest.  Additional beetle feeding experiments take place in very controlled conditions within the Insectary at the John Innes Centre.

Climate Resilience

Yield is also affected by winter temperature and we are working towards developing climate resilient oilseed rape. Tom Lock (Professor Steven Penfield’s group ) is investigating how climate change is affecting rapeseed development. Low yields correlate to warm winters with just a 1°C increase in temperature during the winter resulting in 113kg/hectare loss of yield.

An experimental trial has been set up where a high yielding but susceptible to winter temperature variety has been crossed with a low yielding, but temperature resilient variety and the most promising progeny are being tested in the field. The aim is to generate a commercially viable, climate smart variety of oilseed rape.

Developing a Multiparental Inbred Population for Gene Discovery

JIC is working with Rothamsted Research to generate an oilseed rape MAGIC (Multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross) population as a community resource for mapping genetic diversity and identifying genetic markers for use in breeding programmes.  Parental lines are being grown at the field trials station for trait analysis.

National List Trials

In addition to our research, oilseed rape is also grown at our field trails station for the Variety List Trials.