Analysis of genetic effects and heritabilities for linoleic and α-linolenic acid content of Brassica napus L. across Chinese environments

A genetic model for quantitative traits of seed in diploid plant was applied to analyze the main genetic effects and genotype x environment (GE) interaction effects for linoleic and a-linolenic acid content of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) by using two year experimental data with 8 parents and their F-1 and F-2. Results indicated that the performance of linoleic (Cl 8:2) and a-linolenic acid content (Cl 8:3) of rapeseed were simultaneously controlled by diploid embryo nuclear genes, cytoplasmic genes and diploid maternal plant nuclear genes, and the GE interaction effects for these two seed quality traits were more important than the genetic main effects. The total narrow-sense heritability was 69.5% and 41.8% for C18:2 and C18:3, respectively, and the GE interaction heritabilities were found to be larger than the general heritabilities for both quality traits. It was suggested by the predicted genetic effects that Huashuang 3 was better than other parents for improving offspring of C18:2 and Youcai 601, Zhongyou 821, Eyouchangjia and Zhong R-888 for decreasing C18:3.