EFFECT OF CROSS-POLLINATION ON CROP COMPONENTS AND CHEMICAL CONTENTS OF CANOLA (Brassica campestris L. AND Brassica napus L.) UNDER GIZA GOVERNORATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

This work was carried out in the apiary of Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, during two successive seasons (06/07 & 07/08), to evaluate the effect of open pollination on the seed yield of canola (Brassica campestris & Brassica napus). Also, the Germination Speed Index (GSI), Germination Percentage (GP), and chemical composition of seeds that produced from open and caged plots were determined. The obtained data showed that the open pollination resulted in increasing the number of pods/plant; weight of seeds/plant; mean yield/feddan, and seed index (weight of 1000 seeds) than those produced from caged treatment. Also, the presence of pollinators on canola increased the germinability of resulting seeds from 74.00% to 96.00% and from 88.00% to 98.00% for both species, respectively. The open pollination induced an alternation of chemical composition of seeds and increased the total lipids; crude protein, and carbohydrates than seeds produced from caged treatments.