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Compensation of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.) plants after damage to their buds and pods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Ingrid H. Williams
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
J. B. Free
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire

Summary

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 (Ceutorhynch.ua ossimilis Payk.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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