Alternaria brassicae is a widely recognised as a significant pathogen of oilseed brassicas, especially canola and mustard, infesting all plant components and causing adverse yield loss, whereas A. japonica is newly recognised but little understood. Disease epidemic development and yield impacts of the two species were compared, and the findings explained why Alternaria leaf spot epidemics accelerate during the growing season as foliage becomes more susceptible with age and as more susceptible, later developing leaves become abundant. This provides critical information for A. japonica in relation to timing of symptom appearance, susceptibility of different foliage components, disease progression, and associated severe yield loss.

The application of soil amendments to immobilise pesticide residues is a promising technology for meeting human health requirements, environmental protection and cost-effective remediation. The addition of biochar with compost increased the canola growth and decreased the concentrations of pesticide residues. Spectroscopy analysis indicated that the π–π interaction, pore filling, hydrophobic effect, H-bonding, and degradation are the dominant mechanisms of the studied pesticide residues with rice straw of biochar and compost amendments in the alkaline soils.

The inland Pacific Northwestern U.S. has lagged behind similar semi-arid wheat regions in producing oilseeds such as canola. The sustainable integration of canola in this region is challenged with uniquely dry and hot conditions during much of the active growing season, dictating production zone-specific rotation and seeding strategies, as well as nutrient, water, weed and subsoil management.

Drought stress, especially at the reproductive stage, is a major limiting factor that compromises the productivity and profitability of canola. Here we identify genetic regions associated with drought tolerance, which can be used for breeding canola to enhance drought tolerance.

Biomass and harvest index are two important traits to canola yield. We compared the yield performance of several hybrid and open-pollinated canola over 3 years in southwestern Australia and aimed to identify the key drivers of yield formation. Seed yield of hybrids was attributed primarily to greater biomass in the high yielding environment.