Increasing seed set and pollen proofing in Brassica juncea and Brassica napus through novel non-woven synthetic pollination control bags

ABSTRACT Brassica juncea and B. napus species are predominantly self-pollinated. Parchment paper or muslin cloth bags are used for controlled selfed or cross-seed production. We evaluated three non-woven synthetic pollination control bags (PCBs) for two years as replacement for the commonly used PCBs. The new synthetic PCBs were fully pollen proof since the molecular marker analysis of the random seeds set on two cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines isolated with PCBs were all maternally originated. DWB03 bags returned 47% significantly more seeds per bud than the parchment paper bags. Larger DWB03 bags showed 38% higher mean seed yield (g/plant) than the muslin cloth bags. Re-used DWB03 bags were statistically on par with new bags for the seed yield per plant. On average, DWB03 bags produced 57% more hybrid seed set on CMS lines than the muslin cloth bags. The micro-climate in DWB03 bags appeared to be more conducive for good seed set as compared to the outside and muslin cloth bags. Non-woven PCBs offer better options for replacing paper or muslin cloth bags in the breeding of Brassicas.