1Department of Plant Physiology, C.B.S.H, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.P., 263145
Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricutural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012
The pattern of growth, development and responses of three Brassica species, to long term drought stress were examined under field conditions. Depletion in soil moisture content from 16% at sowing to 6% at maturity resulted in reduction of leaf area index, total dry-matter, seed yield and hastening of develpmental processes of all the three cultivars, B. juncea and B. campertris attained 100% flowering a fortnight earlier than B. napus under irrigated and drought treatments, sustained higher pod number, seed size and yielded almost equally but appreciably more than B. napus. B. napus despite maintaining superior LAI and higher total dry matter at and before 100% flowering under severe drought was susceptible to stress in terms of seed yield and its attributes due to shorter length of reproductive period. The greater length of reproductive period was positively associated with higher seed size and seed yield in these species. The genetic improvement of B. napus is highlighted.
