Section 4 - Oilseed Rape (BRASSICA NAPUS L.)

This consensus document addresses the biology of the species Brassica napus L. Included are general descriptions of this species as a crop plant, its origin as a species, its reproductive biology, its centres of origin, and its general ecology. The ecology of this species is not described in relation to specific geographic regions. Special emphasis has been placed on detailing potential hybridisation between B. napus and its close relatives, although this discussion is limited to hybridisation events which do not require intervention through means such as embryo rescue (i.e. these events could possibly occur in nature, and could result in fertile offspring).