ABSTRACT
Traditional breeding work begins with formulation of breeding objectives for the crop under improvement. The objectives for genetic improvement through breeding differ for particular plant species. Rapeseed (or oilseed rape) is grown in different climates under varying weather conditions in different years. The dominant species is B. napus from which summer annual and winter annual forms exist and are grown (see Introduction, Table 4-1). Because of the different growing conditions under which summer and winter rape is cultivated, breeding objectives are different and the ranking and importance of goals are different and might also change over time with new requirements from producers (e.g., need for resistance to certain diseases) or processors and customers (e.g., seed quality attributes). These are very long term decisions and require an in-depth evaluation of future trends and needs. All this has to be balanced based on available scientifi c knowledge about the possibility to achieve certain objectives and combinations of desirable traits in one phenotype. The next task for the breeder is to develop a priority list for the various traits to be improved and to incorporate breeding activities into an overall improvement program. This must include considerations for availability of land, equipment for seeding and harvesting of experimental plots, greenhouse space, disease resistance screening facility, laboratory facilities and personnel and others.
