Relationship between Physiological and Seed Yield Related Traits in Winter Rapeseed (Brassica Napus L.) Cultivars under Water Deficit Stress

Abstract

Finding the relationship between physiological traits and seed yield components is an important objective in crop breeding programs. Canonical correlation analysis has been adopted to study the strength of association between the physiological traits and seed yield under water deficit stress and to obtain the physiological traits that have the largest effect on seed yield and its components. This study revealed that leaf water potential, relative water content, leaf osmotic potential and chlorophyll index had the largest influence on seed yield and its components under severe water deficit. Under mild water deficit, leaf water potential and relative water content were also important for improving seed yield. Leaf water potential, relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescene and chlorophyll index were had the largest effect on seed yield and its components under well watered condition.