Sustained cultivation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic crops requires stable transgene expression under variable abiotic conditions. We studied the interactions of Bt toxin production and chronic ozone exposure in Bt cry1Ac-transgenic oilseed rape and found that the insect resistance trait is robust under ozone elevations. Bt Cry1Ac concentrations were higher in the leaves of Bt oilsee...

After four years of cold storage, dimethachlon resistance of two laboratory-induced resistant Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates SCG7 and LA50 declined by 99.5% and 98.9%, respectively, and cross resistance to iprodione and procymidone also declined dramatically. Along with the decline of fungicide resistance, osmotic sensitivity to sodium chloride and glucose decreased tremendously; mycelial gr...

Many studies show concentrations of nutritionally desirable fatty acids in bovine milk are lower when cows have no access to grazing, leading to seasonal fluctuations in milk quality if cows are housed for part of the year. This study investigated the potential to improve the fatty acid profiles of bovine milk by oilseed supplementation (rolled linseed and rapeseed) during a period of indoor fe...

Herbicide tolerant (HT) crops are not a new phenomenon – in fact, all crops are to some extent tolerant to herbicides. Many herbicides are dose-specific for particular plant groups, for example grasses, and these can be used on broad-leaved crops like potatoes and oilseed rape without causing unacceptable harm. This is the basis for most current agricultural practice in developed countries. Gen...

Top-down control analysis (TDCA) is a useful tool for quantifying constraints on metabolic pathways that might be overcome by biotechnological approaches. Previous studies on lipid accumulation in oilseed rape have suggested that diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), which catalyses the final step in seed oil biosynthesis, might be an effective target for enhancing seed oil content. Here, incr...

Whilst a formal statistical analysis of any experimental data is always preferable in principle, in the case of Pilling et al. (PLoS ONE 8:e77193, 2013), it is hard to see how the results of any formal analysis-including those provided by Schick et al.-could be considered reliable. Regardless of the issue of statistical analysis, there was a wealth of valuable and novel biological and chemical ...

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop in India earning lot of revenue. Research on nutritional aspects relating to sunflower cultivation is abundant and is documented comprehensively. However, the role of major nutrients on crop physiology and the effect of these nutrients on growth and yield of oilseed crops in general and sunflower in particular are scanty. Particularly, the role of phosphor...

In this study, the effects of salinity stress (NaCl) on the activity of Catalase (CAT), Guaiacol Peroxidase (POD), and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in leaves of fifteen oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars (Champlain, Hayola401, Licord, Modena, NK Aviator, NK Karibik, NK Octan, Okapy, Opera, PF, RGS, RNX 3621, SLM046, Talayeh, Zarfam). Plants were grown in a greenhouse under co...

Global food security is threatened by crop diseases that account for average yield losses of 16%. Climate change is exacerbating threats to food security in much of the world, emphasising the need to increase food production in northern European countries such as the UK. However, to mitigate climate change, crops must be grown so as to minimise greenhouse gas emissions (GHG); results with UK oi...

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), belonging to the family „Asteraceae‟ is a diploid species (2n = 2x = 34). Sunflower is an important oilseed crop and is the preferred source of oil for domestic consumption and cooking worldwide (Hu et al., 2010). In the oilseed scenario, sunflower competes with other three major oilseeds, i.e. soyabean, groundnut and rapeseed mustard at global level. Sunflower...