13th Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries (CMAPSEEC 2026)

Corresponding author: shahabahmadd@gmail.com
Keywords: Brassica interspecific crosses; Genetic diversity; Biochemical profile; Secondary metabolites; Medicinal and aromatic applications
Background: Brassica species are vital oilseed and natural product crops whose genetic resources are heavily exploited to improve agronomic performance and specialized biochemical profiles. Understanding and conserving genetic variability within these populations is essential for breeding elite genotypes with optimized bioactive and quality attributes relevant to medicinal, aromatic, and industrial applications.
Materials and Methods: The research was conducted at the New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar during 2025-26. The experimental material comprised nine parental lines and 78 F3:4 populations derived from 10 interspecific crosses selected for high oil, high protein, and low glucosinolate (GSL) contents. Biochemical parameters-including oil, protein, GSL, erucic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid contents—were analyzed using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). Broad-sense heritability (h2), expected genetic advance, and cluster analysis (UPGMA) were subsequently computed.
Results: Substantial phenotypic and biochemical diversity was observed across the interspecific F3:4 populations. Cross Bn-510xBj-109 and Bn-531xBr-118 exhibited maximum oil (50.93%) and protein (24.34%) contents, respectively. Desirable reductions in anti-nutritional and secondary metabolites were identified, notably lowest glucosinolates in Bn-547xBj-109 (73.38 µmol g-1) and minimal erucic acid in Bn-547xBr-118 (46.25%). Key biochemical traits exhibited moderate to high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating strong additive gene control and minimal environmental influence. Cluster analysis successfully classified the populations into distinct diversity groups containing unique blends of valuable biochemical traits.
Conclusions: Interspecific hybridization effectively broadens the genetic base and enhances biochemical profiles in Brassica. The high heritability and genetic variation observed in these F3:4 populations provide a strong foundation for future selection programs aimed at developing specialized cultivars with superior quality and medicinal profiles tailored for pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and aromatic applications.