Some Experiences of Using Different Analytical Methods in Screening for Oil and Protein Content in Rapeseed

In this study some analytical methods, which have been used in oil crop breeding, are compared from the point of view of plant breeding. For oil content determination a gravimetric method, NMR and NIR have been used. Protein content has been determined by the classical Kjeldahl technique, by the Biuret method and by NIR. The results indicate that the NIR spectroscopy is specially useful in screening breeding materials. This method enables the breeder to select for several quality characters simultaneously at a high speed and at a low cost. Since NIR spectroscopy is nondestructive, the same seed lot can be used for analysis and planting. Thus it is possible to select on a large scale for single plants.