Synergy of Biotechnological Approaches with Conventional Breeding to Improve Quality of Rapeseed-mustard Oil and Meal

Brassica sp. (rapeseed-mustard) with high glucosinolates makes the cakes unpalatable to the animals. Therefore, because of high public awareness, the oil seeds with low content of erucic acid and glucosinolates and high levels of oleic acid are preferred for healthier edible oil and more palatable seed meal for the livestock. Therefore, in this paper efforts have been made to discuss the possibilities of the transfer of desired traits across species and genera barriers by using advanced techniques in addition to the conventional ones. The techniques like genetic transformation, protoplast fusion, somatic hybridization, double haploid breeding etc. have been described to achieve the desired characteristics in Brassica sp. for better acceptability of oil for the human beings and seed meal for the animals.