Stability of the cleistogamous trait during the flowering period of oilseed rape

Abstract

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.

Cleistogamy of oilseed rape, a way to prevent cross‐fertilization between adjacent fields

“…These estimates range from 12% to 55%, averaging 30%. In a previous study, it has been reported that the cleistogamous trait of the line tested in this study showed a small instability, whose level varied between trials (Leflon et al. 2010): in a multi‐site experimentation, the mean percentage of partially open flowers varied from 1.1% to 10.7%.…”

“…As cleistogamous lines have been selected by INRA, several field experiments have been carried out to evaluate the benefits of oilseed rape cleistogamy in reducing pollen exchanges between fields. In field-scale ring experiments, Leflon et al (2010) examined the reliability of the cleistogamous trait for two new inbred lines. The flower opening level was measured at different dates during the flowering period at six sites (three sites · 2 years).…”

Cleistogamy and phylogenetic position ofViola uliginosa(Violaceae) re-examined

“…The genetic basis of cleistogamy is still poorly understood although it has attracted considerable attention in recent years because CL genotypes of important crops, such as rice, barley, rape and soya (Turuspekov et al ., ; Maeng et al ., ; Yoshida et al ., ; Leflon et al ., , ; Wang et al ., ) or important medicinal plants, such as Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don (Kulkarni & Baskaran, ), could maintain genetic purity and seed production independent of pollinators by cleistogamy. Less is known about the genes involved in cleistogamy in violets.…”

Bilan de 30 ans de travaux de recherche effectués en France sur la pollinisation du colza

“…Enfin, on peut considérer que les butineuses classiques ne présentent pas un danger pour l'utilisation des lignées cléistoga-mes, puisqu'il a été montré que les abeilles n'ouvrent pas les fleurs fermées de ces lignées créées afin d'éviter la dispersion de pollen. Même en cas d'instabilité de la fermeture (Fargue et al, 2006 ;Leflon et al, 2009), par ce système, l'allogamie se trouve réduite de 95 % , ce qui conduit à un taux de contamination final très satisfaisant par rapport à la réglementation européenne.…”