Intergeneric hybridization between Brassica napus and Sinapis pubescens, and the cytology and crossability of their progenies.

The cytological possibility of gene transfer from Sinapis pubescens to Brassica napus was investigated. Intergeneric hybrids between Brassica napus (2n = 38) and Sinapis pubescens (2n = 18) were produced through ovary culture. The F1 hybrids were dihaploid and the chromosome configurations were (0-1) III + (2-11) II + (5-24) I . One F2 plant with 38 chromosomes was obtained from open pollination of the F1 hybrid. Thirty-one seeds were obtained from the backcross of the F2 plant with B. napus. Five out of seven plants had 38 chromosomes, and the pollen stainability ranged from 0% to 81.4%. In the B2 plants obtained from the backcross of B1 plants with B. napus, 66.7% of the plants examined had 38 chromosomes. S. pubescens may become a gene source for the improvement of B. napus.