A review of various quality enhancement strategies in soybean and rapeseed

6 Division of genetics and plant breeding, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, (India) ABSTRACT Oilseed crops are grown primarily for the oil contained in their seeds. The major oilseeds grown are soybean, sunflower, canola and flax. The oil content of grains (e.g, wheat) is only 1-2%; that of oilseeds ranges from about 20% for soybeans to over 40% for sunflowers and rapeseed (canola). Majority of the oilseed meal consists of proteins and high contents of essential amino acid which are beneficial to human health and wellbeing. Likewise, the fat yields of oilseed crops are generally high, though varied from crop to crop (specie), and methods of extraction; high polyunsaturated fatty acids contents also prevent against coronary heart disease. Oilseed crops are promising crop with high potentials to improve human diets, prevent malnutrition and food insecurity and to provide employment through income generation in the society. Major objectives in oil crop improvement are reducing the content of two harmful substances, erucic acid and glucosinolate, which were formerly a problem in rapeseed oil and quality enhancement in soybean. Oilseeds are in demand globally, and there is a need to identify and quantify the key issues for their seed quality enhancement to develop and support actions that will ensure a viable future of such crops.