Abstract
Brassica carinata (carinata) has emerged as a potential biofuel source due to its high erucic acid content, making it desirable for various industrial applications. Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) are required as primary sources of nutrition for growth and development in different oilseed crops and their utilization is interdependent. The purpose of the study was to analyze the interactive effect of N and S nutrition on the growth and other physiological activities of carinata and B. napus (napus). Four treatments, i.e., optimum NS (+N+S, 100% N and 100% S); N limited (−N+S, 0% N, 100% S); S limited (+N−S, 100% N, 0% S), and NS limited (−N−S, 0% N and 0% S) of N and S in full-strength Hoagland solution were imposed in the current study. Effect of different NS treatments was observed on vegetative traits such as number of primary and secondary branches, total leaf area, total biomass production and allocation, and physiological traits such as production of photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthesis, electron transport, and other aspects for both carinata and napus. The traits of stem elongation, number of nodes, node addition rate, internode length, number of primary and secondary branches were 60%, 36%, 50%, 35%, 56%, and 83% lower, respectively, in napus in comparison to carinata. Different NS treatments also positively influenced the production of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl) a and b and carotenoids in carinata and napus. The concentration of Chla was 11% higher in napus in comparison to carinata. The rate of net photosynthesis, electron transport, and fluorescence was 12%, 8%, and 5% higher based on overall value, respectively, in napus compared to carinata. On the other hand, the overall value for stomatal conductance decreased by 5% in napus when compared to carinata. Different growth-related traits such as vegetative (plant height, node number, internode length, leaf area, number of primary and secondary branches), reproductive (pod number, pod length, seeds per pod), and photosynthetic capacity in oilseed brassicas are correlated with the final seed and oil yield and chemical composition which are of economic importance for the adoption of the crop. Thus, the analysis of these traits will help to determine the effect of NS interaction on crop productivity of carinata and napus.
Highlights
Different stages of plant growth and development including vegetative factors, biomass accumulation, and photosynthesis were assessed to understand the effect of NS treatments on carinata and napus
Vegetative traits such as plant height, stem elongation, mainstem nodes, node addition rate, total leaf area, primary and secondary branching were considered to estimate the effect of NS treatments on carinata and napus
ANOVA analysis showed significant species × treatment effect (p < 0.0001) for the traits of secondary branches and total leaf area in both carinata and napus based on different NS treatments at 94 days after treatment (DAT; Figure 1 and Table 1)
Summary
Braun (carinata) has emerged as a non-food, low carbon source of renewable fuel and bioproducts with multiple industrial applications. Carinata is a dedicated second-generation feedstock that is grown on winter fallow land in the Southeast. United States (SE US) and other parts of the world. Adopting alternate crops that are primarily grown on underutilized land ensures low to no indirect land-use change or non-displacement of food crops. Carinata is a multi-purpose oilseed crop used for biofuel production and industrial purposes and is poised to help address the need for a sustainable
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