An assessment of the response of 20 canola (Brassica napus L.) genotypes to drought stress during flowering

The present study was conducted to evaluate the canola (Brassica napus L.) Genotypes responses to drought stress and different growing conditions. According to this, 20 genotypes of canola were cultivated at two different regions and irrigated normally until flowering stage. The canola irrigation was cut at the flowering stage and canola genotypes sense drought stress from flowering stage until harvesting stage. In this experiment, the yield and yield components were recorded for all genotypes. Results showed that canola genotypes had a different response to drought stress. Moreover, it was observed that canola yield and also its yield components formation were significantly affected by interaction of genotype and growing conditions. The canola seed yield, number of silique per plant, seed number in silique, 1000-seed weight, seed oil content and oil yield was significantly reduced due to drought stress. It was found that 1000-seed weight had the highest effect on the canola seed yield formation, in comparison with other yield components. According to our results, it can be concluded that the canola response to drought stress was genotype-dependent. It was also concluded that 1000-seed weight could be a suitable trait for selection of the canola genotypes.