RESPONSES OF RAPE GENOTYPES TO BORON APPLICATION

Pot and field experiments were conducted to examine the effect of boro n on the yield and quality of different rape genotypes and to identify cultivar variation in some physiological responses to boron. B fertil iser can significantly increase the yields of both traditional and hig h-quality rape. Significant differences in yield response to boron app lication were found between cultivars. High quality varieties were mor e sensitive to boron deficiency than a traditional variety. Applicatio n of boron increased plant height, net photosynthetic rate, activity o f nitrate reductase (NRA) and dry-weight yield, and decreased the cont ents of erucic acid and glucosinolate in both traditional and high-qua lity rape varieties. Boron plays a positive role in keeping the stabil ity of the good characteristics of high quality cultivars.