Research fields, challenges and opportunities in European oilseed crops breeding

• Main Author: Vincourt Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2014-11-01
• Series: Oilseeds and fats, crops and lipids
• Subjects: Brassica napus; Helianthus annuus; breeding target; biotic; abiotic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/ocl/2014043

Due to the geographical specialization in oilseed world production, Europe has a major role to play in winter oilseed rape and sunflower breeding. Mainly based on the most recen t results, this review aims to identify the main research and breeding targets for these two crops, as seen through publications, with an attempt to suggest what are opportunities and challenges in these research fields. Growing a healthy and yielding crop remains the key driver for agronomic production. However sustainability and environmental profiles of the cultivar are now entering the field of play: The sustainability concern invested the field of resistance to diseases. Nitrogen use efficiency became an important target for Brassica napus, and crop resilience toward drought stresses is the way chosen in Helianthus annuus breeding for yield improvement. Significant advances are underway for quality traits, but the uncertainty on nutritional and industrial demand may explain why the product diversification remains low.