The Effect of Low Temperature on Oilseed Rape in Vegetative and Reproductive Growth Stages

Low-temperature stress is a significant abiotic factor that adversely affects the growth and development of oilseed rape at various stages. This stress occurs in two forms: chilling and freezing. The key difference between them lies in temperature: chilling stress occurs at cold temperatures above the freezing point, while freezing stress involves exposure to sub-zero temperatures. The severity of cold damage in oilseed rape depends on several factors, including soil moisture conditions, the rate of ice melting, the plant’s developmental stage, the plant’s level of pre-adaptation, and the duration of the stress. Consequently, the type and intensity of cold injury can vary significantly across different growth stages, such as germination, vegetative growth, reproductive development, and seed filling. Moreover, temperature fluctuations within a single growing season can be so extreme that chilling injury in crops like oilseed rape becomes inevitable. Nevertheless, proper agronomic practices—such as ensuring adequate nutrition, selecting an optimal sowing date, utilizing cold-tolerant genotypes, and maintaining appropriate plant density—can effectively reduce or prevent chilling damage and its negative impacts.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cold Stress ، Freezing stress ، Plant Wilting ، Tolerance