PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY OF BRASSICA (CANOLA) IN RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENT & SULPHUR NUTRITION

The evaluation and selection of improved varieties in accordance with local climatic and soil conditions are one of the important agronomic practices for higher yields under rainfed conditions. The uncertainties of rainfall and moisture availability in rainfed conditions affect crop growth, yield and quality. The genotype environment interaction is the key factor in the assessment of crop variety performance. Adoption of the cultivars with higher yield potential and wide range of adaptability to edaphic and climatic conditions is essential for increasing yield per unit area ultimately boosting up total production. Nutritionally, oilseed rape and brassica species in general require sulphur during their growth for the synthesis of both protein and naturally occurring glucosinolates and volatile oils\ud \ud To establish the effect of environmental variations field experiments were conducted one each at the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Groundnut Research Station, Attock and Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal during 2003-04 and 2004-05. Ten canola cultivars viz. Shiralee, Westar, Dunkeld, Zafar-2000, Bulbul-98, Con-II, 19-H, Abaseen, Rainbow and Con-I were sown in a randomized complete block design with four replications in a net plot size 5 m X 2.7 m on 14-10-2003, 13-10-2003, 16-10-2003 at Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal, respectively, during 2003-04, and on 28-10-2004, 14-10-2004, 16-10-2004 at Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal, respectively, during second year (2004-05). At maturity, the central two rows were harvested manually; on 06-04-2005 from Chakwal during second year (2004-05). To document the role of suphur in performance and quality of canola, the experiments were conducted at Rawalpindi on 21-10-2003 during first year and on 29-10-2004 during second year. Two canola cultivar i.e. Shiralee and Con-1 and four sulphar levels were arranged in split plot randomized complete block design. The experiments were harvested on 06-04-2004 during first year and on 21-04-2005 during second year