Improving oilseed rape for less fertilisers and pollution

Rapeseed is the second most important oilseed crop worldwide. Intensive cultivation of rapeseed induces leaching of fertilizers in waters, less efficient fertilization and pollution. There is therefore a need for rapeseed varieties that are more efficient in the use of fertilizer nitrogen. Agronomists Bouchet et al. review new knowledge on rapeseed nitrogen physiology and relevant traits that could be used for plant breeding.