Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Water deficit stress affects growth and some biochemical characteristics of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Author(s):

Sardar Germchi ¹, Fariborz Shekari ², Mohammad Bagher Hassanpooraghdam ³, Mohammad Bagher Khorshidi Benam ^4*, Farid Shekari ⁵

Recieved Date: 2010-07-22, Accepted Date: 2010-11-07

Abstract:

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of drought stress on growth and some quality attributes of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cv. Cobra during different growth phases. Treatments were four levels of water deficit stress including L₁ (field capacity level), L₂ (70% of available water content), L₃ (50% of available water content) and L₄ (30% of available water content) during three successive growth phases of T₁ (stem elongation), T₂ (flower bud development stage) and T₃ (silique development stage). The significant negative effects of water deficit stress were observed on leaf area, plant height, main inflorescence length and stem dry weight during fourth level of stress and stem elongation growth stage. The greatest impact on silique dry weight loss was recorded in the highest level of stress (L₄) and during silique development period of growth cycle. Leaf area and root dry weight were not affected by stress application times. Meanwhile, tuber-like roots formation had positive response to all stress application stages. The least amounts for shoot/root ratio, harvest index and seed yield were recorded under severe stress conditions during flower bud development stage. Seed protein content of plants was adversely affected by stress level and any decrease in available water content led to a concomitant decrease in protein content. At the same time, seeds oil content was influenced by stress application times. Water deficit stress during flower bud formation had the greatest adverse effect on seeds oil content. In total, drought stress had negative effects on growth, physiological and biochemical potential of rapeseed and appropriate management of water availability during growing season had a critical role in attaining high quality crop without any significant loss in quality and yield components.

Keywords:

Drought stress, protein content, oil content, growth characteristics

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 1126-1129

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