Table 1. Name and characteristics of the eight oilseed rape genotypes chosen for our experiment.

Genotype name	Oilseed rape type	Geographical origin	Registration year	Seed quality	Branching	Yield (t.ha-1)	Yield variation
AMBER	Winter	Germany	2003	0+	0/3	3.02	33%
AVISO	Winter	Denmark	2000	00	3/3	3.37	18%
CRESOR	Spring	France	<1982	0+	NA	NA	NA
EMIL	Winter	Denmark	1981	0+	3/3	2.43	29%
GASPARD	Winter	France	1985	++	NA	2.47	20%
MOHICAN	Winter	France	1995	00	1/3	3.05	22%
MILENA	Winter	Germany	2000	00	0/3	3.31	27%
TOSCA	Winter	Sweden	Early 2000’s	00	NA	2.55	NA

Seed quality is a qualitative indicator for erucic acid (C22:1) and glucosinolates (GSL) content, with ++: genotypes rich in C22:1 and GSL, 0+: genotypes poor in C22:1 and rich in GSL, and 00, genotypes poor in C22:1 and in GSL. The branching notation comes from previous experiments, ranging from 0/3 (very few aerial branches) to 3/3 (many aerial branches). Yield data indicates if the genotype is known for its high or low productivity, whereas yield variation data indicates whether or not the genotype had contrasting values of yield in various environments (ie. location x year), expressed by the coefficient of variation of yield among environments [39]. NA: not available. Yield data were extracted from the RAPSODYN project database, courtesy of Anne Laperche and Erwan Corlouer).