Abstract

ZAHEDI, Hossein; SHIRANI-RAD, A. Hossein  and  TOHIDI-MOGHADAM, H. Reza. Zeolite and selenium application and their effects on production and physiological attributes of canola cultivars under water stress. Agrociencia [online]. 2012, vol.46, n.5, pp.489-497. ISSN 2521-9766.

To study the effects of zeolite and selenium (Se) application on production and physiological attributes of three canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars under water stress, an experiment was conducted in two growing seasons (2006 and 2007), at Karaj, Iran. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks in factorial split plot with three replications, and three factors: 1) irrigation: complete and restricted at stem elongation stage; 2) zeolite: 0 and 10 t ha^-1; 3) Se (as sodium selenate): 0, 15 and 30 g L^-1. These treatments were randomized into Zarfam, Okapi and Sarigol canola cultivars. According to the results, Zarfam cultivar showed the lowest electrolyte leakage and the highest biological yield due to zeolite application and 30 g L^-1 Se. The highest chlorophyll content and seed yield was related to Okapi cultivars under the same treatments, while Sarigol was next. Zeolite and Se applications increased seed yield, but under water stress they did not change this variable. Furthermore, the biological yield increased due to Se and zeolite application, especially under water stress. Thus, application of 15 g L^-1 Se and 10 t ha^{- 1} zeolite may increase canola seed yield under water stress.

Keywords : biological yield; Brassica napus L.; water stress; cellular electrolyte leakage; selenium; zeolite.