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Development of a new high yielding CANOLA QUALITY Rapeseed VARIETY DURR-E-NIFA FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION IN NWFP

Syed Anwar Shah, R. Zamir and S. T. Shah

Abstract: An Australian canola genotype ‘Dunkeld’ and a local rapeseed mutant variety ‘Abasin-95’ were hybridized at Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar during Rabi, 1995-96. Selection of the high yielding recombinant line ‘NH 97-1/5-1’ was made in F₂ segregating populations during 1997. The hybrid was thoroughly evaluated in various replicated yield trials for yield potential and stability test at NIFA and other stations from 1999 to 2004. The proposal of the recombinant ‘NH 97-1/5-1’ was submitted for approval as commercial variety to NWFP Provincial Seed Council. The Seed Council approved the hybrid line ‘NH 97-1/5-1’ as a new improved variety under the name “DURR-E-NIFA” for general cultivation in NWFP in its meeting held on 19^th September 2005 (Anon., 2005). The major improvement in ‘DURR-E-NIFA’ is manifested in the form of increase in seed size, decrease in plant height, stiff stem, broader adaptability as compared to check variety ‘Shiralee’. The large seed size of ‘DURR-E-NIFA’ is the main contributing factor towards the increase in seed yield compared to Shiralee. Short stature and stiff stem of ‘DURR-E-NIFA’ helps in showing resistance to lodging. DURR-E-NIFA has 12.5% high seed yield potential, up to 9.7% higher oil content of canola quality compared to the commercial variety. The release of this new improved rapeseed variety for commercial cultivation in rainfed and irrigated areas will increase the domestic edible oil production.

Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), P.O. Box-446, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Email: sanwarshah@nifa.org.pk