Study of root system relationship with water relations in Rapeseed under drought stress conditions

In order to study of root system relationship with water relations in Rapeseed under drought stress conditions, a pot experiment was carried out in greenhouse at Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (Karaj) in 2012. Five winter Rapeseed genotypes were evaluated under four irrigation treatments, using a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design. The results indicated that response of genotypes to irrigation treatments was different for stomata conductivity, SPAD value, root length and diameter, morphologic characteristics, yield and yield components. In control, Cooper produced the highest grain yield that due to higher silique number per plant, whereas, ‘Opera’ had the maximum grain yield under drought stress treatments. This subject was due to higher root depth and diameter in ‘Opera’ and on the basis of these characters, the high leaf area duration, stomata conductivity, silique number and grain number was observed in ‘Opera’. In conclusion, these results showed that role of root morphologic characteristics in Rapeseed adaptation to drought tolerance is powerful and an effective root system with last stomata conductivity, more leaf area duration and high silique number were more important for yield maintenance of Rapeseed under drought stress conditions.