The Biology of Canadian Weeds. 137. Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.

Brassica napus and B. rapa are native to Eurasia. In Canada, these species are commonly referred to as volunteer canola, while feral populations of B. rapa are referred to as birdrape. Brassica napus and B. rapa have been grown commercially for their seed oil content in western Canada since the middle of the last century and volunteer populations are common in fields. Escaped populations of both species are also found along roadways, railways and in waste areas; however, only B. rapa is known to have naturalized, self-sustaining feral populations in these habitats in eastern Canada. Despite these escaped and feral populations, B. napus and B. rapa are mainly a concern in agricultural fields where their combined relative abundance has increased over the past few decades. In the mid 1990s, herbicide-resistant genotypes of B. napus were released for commercial production. Herbicide-resistance and the stacking of genes in volunteer populations conferring resistance to multiple herbicides have contributed to increased difficulties in controlling volunteer B. napus in some crops. However, yield loss resulting from volunteer populations is not well documented in Canada. Key words: Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, herbicide resistance, transgene escape, volunteer canola, weed biology