Statistical Multivariate Methods for the Selection of High-Yielding Rapeseed Lines with Varied Seed Coat Color

A crucial aim for rapeseed breeders is increasing the seed yield through improving yield- and silique-related traits. In this research, traits including the number of seeds per silique, silique length, silique width, and thousand-seed weight combined with seed coat color were investigated. Yellow-seeded lines of oilseed rape have a thinner seed coat, lower fiber content, and higher protein and oil content than traditional varieties. Hybrids of yellow- and black-seeded Brassica napus, which combine the advantages of both types of seeds, are tested for their suitability in breeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess a population of 78 doubled haploid lines with different seed coat colors to select genotypes connecting a light color of seeds with good yielding characteristics. Multivariate methods such as analysis of variance, correlation analysis, regression analysis, canonical variate analysis, Mahalanobis distances, and estimation of gene effects were used. The results showed that all tested genotypes were significantly different regarding all five studied traits. The multidimensional analyses gave an accurate overview of the relationship between the examined features. The color and weight of seeds were considered the most important for breeding rapeseed with better seed properties. Although a negative correlation between these two characteristics occurs quite commonly, it was not present in our plant material, which allowed us to select lines with a-light seed color and high thousand-seed weight, which is a significant achievement. As a result, two doubled haploid lines were chosen as valuable breeding material for creating oilseed rape varieties with improved biochemical characteristics of seeds.