Production of wide hybrids and backcross progenies between Diplotaxis erucoides and crop brassicas

Abstract

Intergeneric hybrids were produced between D. erucoides (♀), a wild species, and four cultivated species of Brassica, B. campestris, B. juncea, B. napus and B. oleracea, through embryo rescue. The hybrid nature of these plants was confirmed through morphological and cytological studies. Backcross pollinations with the pollen of the respective cultivars yielded BC progenies in the hybrids D. erucoides × B. juncea and D. erucoides × B. napus but not in D. erucoides × B. campestris and D. erucoides × B. oleracea. The hybrid D. erucoides × B. campestris was also used as a bridge species and crossed with B. juncea to raise the hybrid and backcross progenies. F₂ progenies were more amenable than F₁ hybrids for raising backcross progenies. Although D. erucoides is considered to be a close relative of B. campestris and B. oleracea, incompatibility barriers of this species with different cultivars do not reflect this relationship.