Winter oilseed rape for organic farming: evolutionary bulks for resource efficiency and drought resilience

Cultivation of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in organic farming is constrained by yield uncertainty, high nitrogen demand, and biotic and abiotic stresses. This project investigates how variation in root and shoot traits relates to nitrogen use efficiency, drought responses and yield performance.
The research focuses on heterogeneous evolutionary populations maintained in parallel under organic and conventional management for more than 15 years. The material includes populations derived from crosses between elite and resynthesized rapeseed material. Comparisons between the organic and conventional counterparts within each population background will examine phenotypic differences associated with cultivation history and identify traits of potential value for organic production.
We combine root phenotyping under PEG-induced osmotic stress in hydroponics with soil-based drought experiments and physiological monitoring using the PlantArray system. These experiments characterize root architecture, biomass allocation, leaf physiology and plant water-use dynamics. Complementary field trials under irrigated and rainfed conditions, with contrasting nitrogen supplies, will assess resource use efficiency, seed yield, and oil and protein content. A central objective is to determine whether traits identified under controlled conditions are associated with performance in the field.
The population comparisons will complement the wider project’s genetic analyses and evaluation of derived lines and reference cultivars. Together, these approaches aim to identify useful physiological selection criteria and breeding material that support improved resource efficiency and yield stability in winter oilseed rape for organic farming.