In 1989, 11 inbred lines, randomly selected from the ND-02 bulk population characterized by a high oleic acid content, were mated following a factorial design. The obtained hybrids were sown in 1990 and were analyzed for fatty acid composition of the oil and quantitative yield (seed and oil). The gcnetic variability is consistent for a ll the characters analyzed and the non-additive variance component (S.C.A.) was more important than the additivevariance (G.C.A.) for oleic acid, linoleic acid and seed yield characters. The absence of correlation between seed yield and oleic acid content does not seem to prevent breeders from obtaining hybrids with a high level of both characters and a positive correlation between stearic acid oil content and seed yield, if confirmed in the subsequent studies, could indicate interesting new research lines.