EFFECTS OF WATERLOGGING ON GROWTH AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL-PARAMETERS OF 4 BRASSICA SPECIES

Waterlogging tolerance of four Brassica species, Brassica campestris L., B. carinata A. Br., B. juncea (L.) Czern and Coss., and B. napus L. was assessed after 4 weeks growth in greenhouse at two waterlogging treatments, unflooded control soil, and fully waterlogged soil. Shoot fresh and dry biomass, in both mean and relative terms, was highest in B. juncea and lowest in B. napus at waterlogging treatment. B. carinata was as good as B. juncea in mean shoot fresh and dry matter but it had almost same relative shoot fresh matter as that in B. campestris, but was second highest in relative shoot dry weight. Waterlogging treatment caused a marked reduction in chlorophyll content in all four species but the species difference was not evident. However, B. juncea and B. napus had lower relative total chlorophyll than the other species. A marked increase in soluble protein content of B. juncea and a significant increase in total amino acids in B. carinata was observed under waterlogged conditions as compared to the other species. At the waterlogging regime, an increase in iron content in both shoots and roots was observed in all four species. B. juncea accumulated lower amount of iron in both shoots and roots as compared to the other species, whereas B. carinata had also lower iron in the roots. The species did not differ for shoot manganese content but B. carinata had significantly higher manganese in the roots as compared to the other species. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.