Pilot production of High-oleic low-linolenic (HOLL) winter oilseed rape in Switzerland

摘要

Research stations, cooperative and professional organizations set up a pilot production of low-linolenic oilseed rape in Switzerland in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The goal was to test HOLL winter oilseed rape varieties under the climatic conditions and farming systems of Switzerland and to supply industry with enough row material for the first frying tests. 300 ha were harvested in 2004 as well as in 2005, and nearly 1000 ha in 2006. A minimum distance of 50m between HOLL and conventional oilseed rape fields was required in 2005 to avoid gene flow that could depreciate HOLL oil quality. Farmers answered a survey describing their farm and crop management practices. With an average yield of 29dt/ha in 2004 and 31 dt/ha in 2005 in the pilot production, these varieties are not as productive as conventional ones, but yields are close to expectations based on performance in varietal tests. A high variability among fields has been observed. The lowest yields were often related to climatic constraints, the best ones were obtained with more intensive practices. Average linolenic acid content of the surveyed pilot production was 2.6% in 2004 and 2.8% in 2005 with a large variability among fields. Distance between HOLL and conventional rapeseed fields did not seem to have much effect In 2005, the analysed fields were grouped in five areas in Switzerland. Significant differences appeared among locations, with only small variability among fields located in the same area. Location and rapeseed volunteers seem the main factors influencing oil quality. Farmers play nonetheless an important role to determine final quality by adopting adapted crop management practices to control rapeseed volunteers and separate carefully HOLL low-linolenic and conventional grains from sowing to harvest.