About Brassica napus

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) was formed ~7,500 years ago by hybridisation between B. rapa and B. oleracea, followed by chromosome doubling, a process known as allopolyploidy. Together with more ancient polyploidsations, this conferred an aggregate 72-fold genome multiplication since the origin of angiosperms and high gene content. Cultivation began in Europe during the Middle Ages and spread worldwide. Diversifying selection gave rise to oilseed rape, swede, fodder rape, and kale morphotypes grown for oil, fodder and food.

Taxonomy ID 3708

Data source GSC

More information and statistics