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Summary Rapeseed proteins have been considered as being poorly digestible in the gut of non‐ruminants. The aim of the study was to assess the digestibility of napin and cruciferin in ileal digesta of broiler chickens, testing sixteen samples of rapeseed co‐products with protein levels ranging from 293 g/kg to 560 g/kg dry matter. Each sample was included into a semi‐synthetic diet at a rate of 500 g/kg and evaluated with broiler chickens in a randomised design. Dietary and ileal digesta proteins were extracted and identified by gel‐based liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Three isomers of napin (a 2S albumin) and nine cruciferins (an 11S globulin) were identified in the rapeseed co‐products, whereas six endogenous enzymes such as trypsin (I‐P1, II‐P29), chymotrypsin (elastase and precursor), carboxypeptidase B and α‐amylase were found in the ileal digesta. It is concluded that as none of the rapeseed proteins were detected in the ileal digesta, rapeseed proteins can be readily digested by broiler chickens, irrespective of the protein content in the diet.

At the field scale, the co-existence of different farming production systems requires strategies to prevent gene flow between adjacent crops. Oilseed rape produces pollen dispersed by wind and insects and the risks of pollen mediated gene flow are significant for this crop. Cleistogamy, the trait of non-opening flowers, could be used to reduce pollen flow. Cleistogamous oilseed rape genotypes were obtained by INRA in France and were bred in order to improve the stability of this trait. In this paper, we examine the reliability of the cleistogamous trait for two inbred lines. The flower opening level was measured at different dates during the flowering period in six field experiments (three sites · 2 years). The results showed that some flowers were partially opened with rates varying from 0.5% to 33% principally depending on genotypes, trials (site and year) and recording dates. Given that other studies have shown that cleistogamy could reduce pollen dispersal, we consider that, even when partially unstable, cleistogamy could be beneficially used in combination with other means in a containment strategy.

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