Analysing the Process of Production Cycle of Hybrid Canola

In this article I am going to analyze the process of production cycle of hybrid canola. With good management, hybrid canola offers growers the potential to increase yield by approximately 11 percent in medium- to high-rainfall zones.

Unlike open-pollinated canola, which begins as a single variety that self-pollinates through each generation of the seed’s production cycle, hybrid canola is created from the pairing of two individual parental lines. The aim of hybrid canola seed production is to produce seed with heterosis (hybrid vigour) from the first cross of the two parent varieties. The female (b-line) parent has been bred to be male-sterile, which is, meaning it cannot self-pollinate and can only receive pollen. The second line, the male (a-line) parent, pollinates as normal.

The two parent lines are then grown in separate rows and bee hives are placed close to the field to encourage cross-pollination. The male strips are often trimmed to ensure they produce sufficient pollen for the female for as long as possible. After pollination has taken place, the male strips are mowed down, as they do not produce the hybrid seed, and the female strips are harvested. The resulting seed that is harvested is the first cross – F1 hybrid – seed, which will then grow into a plant that produces pollen in its flowers.

While it can be a tedious process, investing time and energy into cross-pollinating female and male parents to produce a hybrid seed can be incredibly valuable in the long run. By combining specific parent lines, breeders have more control during the process, opening up the possibility for better varieties and disease-resistance breeds to be discovered.

It’s important to note that the F1 hybrid seed should not be retained, as it is the sole provider of hybrid vigour. The Grains Research & Development Corporation says the more genetically unique the original F1’s parent lines were, the more uneven the second-generation (F2) crop will be. Collected seed harvested from the F2 crop may be inconsistent, as it will likely contain traits from each of the distinct parent lines, which were already cross-pollinated to produce the F1 seed.Similarly, F2 crops can have a significant difference in traits, such as blackleg resistance, maturity, height, and even herbicide tolerance. The GRDC notes that trials using F2 seeds have shown a large reduction in yield compared to F1 hybrid seeds.

In general, it’s no surprise hybrid canola is fast becoming a popular choice among growers across the nation. Experts suggest that hybrids often have more vigorous seedlings compared to open-pollinated alternatives, resulting in much higher yields. While the cost of a hybrid seed is greater than an open-pollinated variety, its increased yield potential makes it worthwhile.