COMPENSATION OF OIL-SEED RAPE (BRASSICA-NAPUS L) PLANTS AFTER DAMAGE TO THEIR BUDS AND PODS

The relationship has been investigated between the yield of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.) plants and (a) the proportion of podless stalks, (b) the proportion of pods infested by seed weevil larvae and (c) the effect of removing a proportion of buds and pods. Plants compensated for damage and, although late removal of buds or pods sometimes caused greater yield loss than early removal, only plants with more than 60 podless stalks or buds removed had diminished yields. The numbers of podless stalks per plant increased with plant size. Removal of 60 of a plant's pods caused no yield loss; in the field a maximum infestation of only 25 of the plant's pods with seed weevil larvae occurred. The results are discussed in relation to damage by pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus Fab.) and seed weevils (Ceutorhynchus assimilis Payk.). © 1979, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.