Secrets of the Seeds : exploring the relationship between seed morphology and seed quality in Lepidium campestre, a novel oil crop for Northern Sweden

Abstract: This study set out to explore relationships between seed morphology and qualitative traits in field cress, Lepidium campestre, with the goal of assisting the breeding process of this crop under domestication. A collection of seeds of L. campestre as well as related species was analysed for weight and size using a MARViN seed analyser. Seed colour was examined through the development of a colour gradient-based method. These traits were then compared to previous agronomic and seed quality data gathered on the seeds of the collection. The data previously collected included flowering time, seed weight per plant, oil content and fatty acid composition, as well as the level of glucosinolates, an anti-nutrient, in the seeds. A series of correlation analyses were made to show correlations between them. The analyses revealed little to no correlation between seed colour and other seed qualities, suggesting that seed colour is not an indicator of seed quality, at least in the traits that were examined in this study. There was a correlation between seed size and oil content, showing that larger seeds contain more oil. There was also a positive correlation between glucosinolate content and oleic acid content, suggesting that the two are linked. Another correlation was found between flowering time and seed weight, showing that there was an optimal time interval for the plants to flower for the seeds to be fully developed: between 115-120 days.