The main goal of the SEEDS project is to transfer knowledge on seed yield-regulating genes obtained in Arabidopsis thaliana to its close relative, the crop plant oilseed rape (Brassica napus), and use it for practical breeding. Oilseed rape is one of the most recently domesticated major crop species, and due to intensive breeding has become the most important oilseed crop in Europe. Germany and France are the main producers and cover together more than 50% of the European production. Yield per hectare varies in different countries, reflecting different input levels and production efficiency. Rapeseed is thus likely to respond strongly to programs aimed at selectively enhancing genetic variation for key economic input and output traits. Indeed, its future sustainable use requires a substantial increase in productivity. The objective of this proposal is to increase productivity of commercial varieties of oilseed rape by enhancing the capacity to form seeds which is currently limited by the activity, size and number of the reproductive structures. Increased productivity will be achieved primarily by increasing the size of the inflorescence and floral meristems, which determines pod number. The activity of the ovule-forming placenta tissue will be enhanced to increase the seed number per pod. Finally, research will be undertaken to increase the seed size which is expected to enhance the sink capacity. Recent research has shown that the hormone cytokinin has a central role in regulating these traits quantitatively. The genes involved have been identified and various tools to change the cytokinin status of plants in a targeted fashion have been developed. Proof-of-concept has been obtained in model species as well as in oilseed rape and further work to extend the knowledge on cytokinin-related genes involved in regulating seed yield in oilseed rape is planned by transgenic and non-transgenic approaches. The availability of the B. napus genome sequence and highly efficient TiLLING procedures are prerequisites to implement these research results in practical plant breeding as a contribution to a sustainable use of oilseed rape. The collaboration between a research laboratory that has discovered the cytokinin yield genes in Arabidopsis and an international commercial oilseed rape breeding company is ideal for the commercial exploitation of the results obtained by the SEEDS project. The consortium is completed by one SME performing oilseed rape transformation and analysis.