Evaluation of growth stages, physiologic traits and seed qualitative characteristics in advanced winter rapeseed varieties in Arak

In order to evaluate of growth stages، physiologic traits and seed qualitative characteristics of advanced winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) varieties in Arak a field experiment was performed in 2010-2011 cropping seasons in randomized complete block design with three replications at experimental field of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Markazi Province، in Arak (34º 5´ N; 49º 42´ E، and 1775 m above sea level)، Iran. Seven advanced rapeseed varieties such as NK Aviator، RNX 6321، ES Betty، Modena، NK Karibic، Champlain and Licord and Okapi as check comprised the experimental factors. Each plot was including of four rows with 6 meter length and 30 centimeter distance. Important agronomic traits such as days number to initiation and end of flowering، length of flowering، days number to ripening، length of ripening، plant height، second branch number per plant، seed number per pod، pod number per plant، 1000 - seed weight، seed yield، seed oil and protein content، biological yield، harvest index and oil yield per unit area were estimated during growth season. The results of varianc analysis showed that rapeseed cultivars had significant differences for all measured traits. In this research، ES Betty cultivar had the highest grain yield (5699 kg/ha)، pod number per plant، 1000 - seed weight، harvest index، seed oil content and oil yield per unit area. In this research، Okapi variety had the least seed yield (3144 kg/ha)، pod number per plant and 1000 - seed weight. Also، there were positive and significant correlations between seed yield and some traits such as pod number per plant، 1000 - seed weight، biological yield and harvest index.