Rapid-cycling Brassica populations were initially developed as a model for probing the genetic basis of plant disease. Paul Williams and co-workers selected accessions of the six main species for short time to flower and rapid seed maturation. Over multiple generations of breeding and selection, rapid-cycling populations of each of the six species were developed. Because of their close relationship with economically important Brassica species, rapid-cycling Brassica populations, especially those of B. rapa (RCBr) and B. oleracea, have seen wide application in plant and crop physiology investigations. Adding to the popularity of these small, short-lived plants for research applications is their extensive use in K-12 education and outreach.

中文翻译：

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实现快速循环芸苔属植物生物学研究模型系统的潜力

快速循环的芸苔属植物种群最初被开发为探索植物病害遗传基础的模型。保罗威廉姆斯和同事选择了六个主要物种的种质，以实现短时间开花和快速种子成熟。经过多代育种和选择，六个物种中的每一个都形成了快速循环种群。由于它们与经济上重要的芸苔属物种的密切关系，快速循环的芸苔属种群，特别是油菜 (RCBr) 和甘蓝属的种群，已在植物和作物生理学研究中得到广泛应用。除了这些用于研究应用的小型、短命植物的普及之外，它们还广泛用于 K-12 教育和外展活动。