Post by DocClabo on Jun 16, 2016 16:06:37 GMT -5
The root was clearly growing slowly and it was hard to find cells in the right phase, so I need to do it again. I suspect that number should be rounded up to 19, not down to 18. (I really don't think it is B. juncea.) But, it wasn't 9, so I think we can rule out oleracea.
I'll have to try this again in the spring with some fresh, young plants.
Chromosome counts aside, and commenting on all the statements that this plant must be B. rapa or B. napus, since those are the only two species that have been selected for storage roots: Since two Brassicas are capable of enlarged roots, why wouldn't another also be capable of it? After all, this trait is seen throughout many families of plants, such as Apiaceae and elsewhere in Brassicaceae (e.g. genus Raphanus). Considering the Triangle of U theory, crossing a B. oleracea and a B. rapa, both with enlarged roots, would seem to tend to form a B. napus that also had one.
