Evaluation of Rapeseed Genotypes under Drought Stress Condition

To evaluate tolerance of rapeseed cultivars under drought stress conditions, a split plot experiment based on RCBD with four replications was carried out for two years at Karaj, Iran. In this experiment, the effects of irrigation treatments in two levels as main plot such as normal irrigation and cutting irrigation from silique formation till end of growth and on varieties as sub plots in 12 levels including of Licord, Okapi, SLM 046, RGS 003, Hyola420, Option500, Zarfam, Orient, Opera, Talaye, Sarigol and Hyola401 were studied. The results showed that drought stress decreased plant height, branch per plant, siliques per plant, grains per siliques, 1000 seed weight and seed content; while it increased harvest index. Drought effect on seed oil percentage was not significant. Experimental results indicated that there is significant variation in all evaluated traits. SLM 046 and Zarfam produced highest yields under normal irrigation (3771 kg/ha and 3727 kg/ha) respectively and under drought stress condition (2705 and 2663 kg/ha) respectively. Also named cultivars in two irrigation treatments had the highest oil yield. Therefore, Zarfam and SLM046 can be reported as varieties with stable yields under both normal irrigation and stress conditions at silique stage of rapeseed varieties studied.