General Biology

The canola ( Brassica napus L.) seed, the source of our delicious canola oil, comes in a variety of colors.  The maximized production of canola seed’s germinating and seedling growth will thus maximize the oil production. This is why it is important to test the seeds and determine which seed will maximize these results.  At which stage of maturity, depending on the colors of black, dark brown and light brown, should harvesters pick the canola seeds? The Ministry of Agriculture carried out an experiment to test canola seeds on germination, oil, protein, sugars, and seedling growth of black, light brown, and dark brown colored seeds. This group hypothesized that seed color does play a role in germination, sugars, and seedling growth.

The Ministry of Agriculture gathered seeds and then sterilized, rinsed, and dried them. Germination testing was performed on three sheets of filter paper, dampened with distilled water, in polyethylene boxes.  The growth chamber temperature was set to twenty-five degrees Celsius.  Germination, when one to two radical (the embryonic root) appeared, was recorded daily for seven days, and then they harvested. They measured the seedlings for size.  Several methodologies were used to test the remaining characteristics. Phenol- sulphuric acid method was used to test for soluble sugars.  The percentage of oil content was determined using Soxhlet extraction.  The protein content was determined by using a Segmented Flow Analyzer.

The germination was increased in the black seed coat. The results declined in dark brown, and then declined even more in the light brown. The seed color also affected the seedling growth. There was greatly increased growth in the black seed. Like the germination test, the growth decreased with the lighter colors with dark brown being less than black, and light brown having the slowest growth. Oil content was shown to be increased in the dark colored seeds and then decreased with the lighter colors. On the other hand, the light brown seed color had the highest protein and sugar content.

Seed color does play a role in germination, seedling growth, and sugars as was suspected. The results of these tests seem to reflect on the maturity of the seed. The seeds acquire a darker coat with maturity.  The darker seed, with increased germination, seedling growth, and oil content, seems to be the mature seed.  The lighter seeds are explained to be immature seeds. Therefore, black coated canola seeds will give you the best, fastest harvest.

Sources:

Jing Zhang, Ying Cui, Liyan Zhang, Yilin Wang, Jing Li, Guijun Yan,, et al. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology. 15.3 (June 30, 2013) Word Count: 3104. Reading Level (Lexile): 1550.Byline: Jing Zhang, Ying Cui, Liyan Zhang, Yilin Wang, Jing Li, Guijun Yan and Liyong Hu Abstract Canola (Brassica napus L.) seeds were sorted based on seed coat color into black (BL), dark brown (DBR) and light brown