Genetics of the Erucic Acid Content in Interspecific Hybrids of Ethiopian Mustard (Brassies carinata Braun) and Rapeseed (B. napus L.)

Abstract
Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata Braun) is a potential oil crop in which genes for low erucic acid content of the seed oil have not yet been found. In order to solve this problem the potential of rapeseed (B. napus L.) varieties as a source of these genes has been tested. Reciprocal F1 hybrids between B. carinata and a low erucic acid variety of B. napus, F2, and backcrosses with B. carinata were obtained. The fatty acid composition was determined in half seeds of F1 and segregating generations from reciprocal interspecific crosses. The genetic analysis indicated that the erucic acid content of the seed oil of B. carinata is controlled by two genes with no dominance and additive in action.