Winter oilseed rape: Pollination of varietal associations

Abstract

Variety trials have shown that varietal associations can produce high yields relative to conventional varieties. However, these high yields depend on the male sterile female F1 plants being pollinated by the other component of the association.

It has been suggested that, when varietal associations are grown in isolated farm fields at the generally recommended seed rates, their yields are sometimes not as high as in variety trials where they are sown at the conventional seed rates and benefit from the pollen produced by neighbouring conventional varieties.

This report outlines two years of experiments to assess yields when varietal associations are grown at reduced seed rates within a crop of a varietal association so that pollen supply is not enhanced by neighbouring conventional varieties.