Brassica Oilseeds Breeding and Management

Brassica is a genus of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), commonly known as the Cruciferae family. The family Brassicaceae, includes about 3,500 species and 350 genera, is one of the ten most economically important plant families. Brassica contains about 100 species, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnip, various mustards and weeds. Brassica crops are among the oldest cultivated plants known to humans with written records dating back to ca. 1500 BC and archaeological evidence of its importance dating back to 5000 BC. The important members of this group are: Brassica napus, B. rapa, and B. juncea -sources of canola and industrial oil. Oilseed brassicas are among the largest traded agricultural commodities and are grown in around fifty countries worldwide. Utilized for both consumption and bioenergy use, demand is increasing and this book covers the entire gamut of oilseed brassicas. Beginning with an introduction and then organized into two sections, it reviews genetics and genomics (including breeding, heterosis and selection methods) and stress management and important pathogens, to provide a complete overview of brassica oilseeds.