Rapeseed Research Articles

Diversity and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Root Rot Fungi from Canola (Brassica napus) in Alberta, Canada.

Root rot disease poses a significant threat to canola (Brassica napus), underscoring the need for a comprehensive understanding of its causal agents for more effective disease mitigation. The composition and diversity of fungal pathogens associated with root rot of canola in Alberta, Canada, were evaluated from plant tissue samples collected in 2021 and 2022. The study revealed Fusarium spp. as the predominant pathogens found in almost all surveyed fields. Fusarium avenaceum, F. redolens, and F. solani were among the most frequently recovered species. Greenhouse trials confirmed their pathogenicity, with F. avenaceum and F. sporotrichioides found to be particularly aggressive. Additionally, F. sporotrichioides and F. commune were identified for the first time as canola root rot pathogens. Inoculation with isolates of most species resulted in significant reductions in seedling emergence, plant height, and shoot and root dry weights. Analysis of translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences confirmed the identity of the Fusarium spp., while concatenating the ITS and TEF-1α sequences enabled improved species differentiation. Geographic and year effects did not influence fungal diversity or aggressiveness, as determined by principal component analysis. This study emphasized the high diversity and impact of Fusarium spp. in causing canola root rot.

A systems genomics and genetics approach to identify the genetic regulatory network for lignin content in Brassica napus seeds.

Seed quality traits of oilseed rape, Brassica napus (B. napus), exhibit quantitative inheritance determined by its genetic makeup and the environment via the mediation of a complex genetic architecture of hundreds to thousands of genes. Thus, instead of single gene analysis, network-based systems genomics and genetics approaches that combine genotype, phenotype, and molecular phenotypes offer a promising alternative to uncover this complex genetic architecture. In the current study, systems genetics approaches were used to explore the genetic regulation of lignin traits in B. napus seeds. Four QTL (qLignin_A09_1, qLignin_A09_2, qLignin_A09_3, and qLignin_C08) distributed on two chromosomes were identified for lignin content. The qLignin_A09_2 and qLignin_C08 loci were homologous QTL from the A and C subgenomes, respectively. Genome-wide gene regulatory network analysis identified eighty-three subnetworks (or modules); and three modules with 910 genes in total, were associated with lignin content, which was confirmed by network QTL analysis. eQTL (expression quantitative trait loci) analysis revealed four cis-eQTL genes including lignin and flavonoid pathway genes, cinnamoyl-CoA-reductase (CCR1), and TRANSPARENT TESTA genes TT4, TT6, TT8, as causal genes. The findings validated the power of systems genetics to identify causal regulatory networks and genes underlying complex traits. Moreover, this information may enable the research community to explore new breeding strategies, such as network selection or gene engineering, to rewire networks to develop climate resilience crops with better seed quality.

Plants interfere with non-self recognition of a phytopathogenic fungus via proline accumulation to facilitate mycovirus transmission

Non-self recognition is a fundamental aspect of life, serving as a crucial mechanism for mitigating proliferation of molecular parasites within fungal populations. However, studies investigating the potential interference of plants with fungal non-self recognition mechanisms are limited. Here, we demonstrate a pronounced increase in the efficiency of horizontal mycovirus transmission between vegetatively incompatible Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strains in planta as compared to in vitro. This increased efficiency is associated with elevated proline concentration in plants following S. sclerotiorum infection. This surge in proline levels attenuates the non-self recognition reaction among fungi by inhibition of cell death, thereby facilitating mycovirus transmission. Furthermore, our field experiments reveal that the combined deployment of hypovirulent S. sclerotiorum strains harboring hypovirulence-associated mycoviruses (HAVs) together with exogenous proline confers substantial protection to oilseed rape plants against virulent S. sclerotiorum. This unprecedented discovery illuminates a novel pathway by which plants can counteract S. sclerotiorum infection, leveraging the weakening of fungal non-self recognition and promotion of HAVs spread. These promising insights provide an avenue to explore for developing innovative biological control strategies aimed at mitigating fungal diseases in plants by enhancing the efficacy of horizontal HAV transmission.

Effects of lignite-based sulphur fertilizer levels on soil properties and growth of Brassica napus

Lignite and sulphur are instrumental in enhancing the growth and yield-related traits of Brassica napus, commonly known as rapeseed. This study aimed to explore the effects of lignite-based sulphur fertilizers on Brassica napus production. Spanning two consecutive seasons, the experiment included treatments with a control group, three levels of elemental sulphur (30, 40, and 50 kg ha-1), and three levels of lignite-based sulphur fertilizer (30, 40, and 50 kg ha-1). Employing a randomized complete block design with four replications, the study revealed that applying lignite-based sulphur fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg ha-1 led to significant improvements in various growth parameters, such as plant height, primary and secondary branches per plant, pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod, biological yield, seed yield, thousand seed weight, and oil yield. Notably, substantially higher seed and oil yields were achieved with the application of 50 kg ha-1 of lignite-based sulphur fertilizer. In semi-arid climates, to maximize rapeseed yield, yield components, and quality, it is advisable to utilize lignite-based sulphur fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg ha-1.

A gain-of-function mutation in BnaIAA13 disrupts vascular tissue and lateral root development in Brassica napus.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an important oilseed crop worldwide. Plant vascular tissues are responsible for material transport and provide mechanical support. The lateral roots (LRs) absorb sufficient water and nutrients. The genetic basis of vascular tissues and LRs development in rapeseed remains unknown. This study characterized an EMS-mutagenized rapeseed mutant, T16, which showed dwarf stature, reduced LRs, and leaf wilting. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the internode-cell shortened. Observations of the tissue sections revealed defects in the development of vascular bundles in the stems and petioles. Genetic analysis revealed that the phenotypes of T16 were controlled by a single semi-dominant nuclear gene. Map-based cloning and genetic complementarity confirmed that BnaA03.IAA13 is the functional gene, a G-to-A mutation in second exon changed the glycine at the 79th position to glutamic acid, disrupting the conserved degron motif VGWPP. Transcriptome analysis in roots and stems showed that auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways were disordered in T16. Evolutionary analysis showed that AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID was conserved during plant evolution. The heterozygote of T16 significantly reduced the plant height while maintaining other agronomic traits. Our findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of vascular tissues and LRs development, and provide a new germplasm resource for rapeseed breeding.

Water use and water use efficiency of three Brassicaceae oilseeds under high‐ and low‐yielding environments

AbstractBrassicaceae oilseed crops have proven potential as vegetable oil feedstock for biofuels and food uses. However, meeting a growing demand for vegetable oils for food and industrial uses will require identifying oilseed species that are best suited for various growing environments within a particular region. The objective of this study was to compare growth dynamics, seasonal water use (WU), seed yields, and water use efficiency (WUE) of canola (Brassica napus L.), camelina (Camelina sativa L.), and white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) to determine their suitability under three different environments within the northern Great Plains. Comparisons were made among these species over three growing seasons between 2013 and 2016 at Morris, MN; Mandan, ND; and Sidney, MT, situated along a strong precipitation gradient from east to west. Generally, growing season precipitation was similar at Morris and Mandan, but both were considerably greater than at Sidney. Seasonal WU was similar among these oilseed species at Morris and Mandan but was greatest for camelina at the drier Sidney environment. Canola seed yield was the greatest at Morris and had higher WUE than camelina and white mustard. At Mandan and Sidney, canola and camelina had similar seed yields and WUE, which were generally greater than white mustard. Under abundant moisture and low stress (e.g., Morris), seed yield per millimeter of water used could be maximized by growing canola, while in a drier more stressful environment like Sidney, seed yield per millimeter of water used could be maximized by growing camelina.

Brassinosteroid-induced transcriptomic rearrangements unveiled the physiological mechanism of chromium stress tolerance in Brassica napus

Brassinosteroid (BR), a plant hormone regulating growth, development, and stress responses, emerges as a promising tool for maintaining agricultural production under abiotic stress conditions. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq profiling and morpho-physiological analysis to investigate the molecular cross-talk involved in 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) mediating alleviation of chromium (Cr) stress. EBR inhibited Cr accumulation and reversed Cr-induced phytotoxicity, thereby promoting plant growth. The photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence a, electron transport rate (ETR) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were significantly higher in EBR+Cr treated plants compared to Cr alone. EBR application facilitated the recovery from Cr-induced structural deformities, including the disintegration of cell walls and membranes. Furthermore, under Cr stress, EBR application reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and accumulation. The levels of glutathione reductase (GR) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were notably higher in plants subjected to EBR application following Cr stress. In addition, we established a transcriptomic database comprising 2345 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (1255 upregulated and 1090 downregulated) as a result of EBR application under Cr stress. The transcriptome analysis unveiled key DEGs and the associated pathways, emphasizing the importance of defense responses, genes encoding photosystem I and II, jasmonate signaling, aquaporins, ABC transporters, and cell wall biogenesis-related genes in the response of EBR to Cr stress.

Sharing the burden: Cabbage stem flea beetle pest pressure and crop damage are lower in rapeseed fields surrounded by other rapeseed crops

The cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) is a significant pest of rapeseed (Brassica napus). Feeding by adult P. chrysocephala can cause severe leaf damage and larval infestation can reduce stem strength, both of which impact crop growth and development, causing substantial yield losses and economic damage. The structure of the agricultural landscape can regulate herbivorous pest populations through top-down and bottom-up processes. This has shown promise in regulating the populations of other herbivorous pests, but remains relatively unexplored for P. chrysocephala. Here we investigate how the structure of the agricultural landscape influences P. chrysocephala abundance (pest pressure) and associated crop damage. We also examine the effect of the landscape on natural enemies and their ability to regulate P. chrysocephala populations. We show that P. chrysocephala populations are primarily regulated through bottom-up processes. We identify adjacency to another rapeseed crop and the total proportion of rapeseed grown in the landscape as key factors influencing beetle pressure, crop damage, and larval infestation, but find no effect of host crop proportions grown in the previous year at the examined scales up to 1 km surrounding focal crops. We also observe positive effects of crop heterogeneity and semi-natural habitat proportions on natural enemy abundance and diversity; however, these increases had no direct impact on P. chrysocephala. Bottom-up processes appear to contribute to herbivorous pest regulation by diluting beetles in the landscape, and could represent an important mechanism for sustainably managing pest populations by adapting the proportions and neighbourhoods of rapeseed crops at small to large spatial scales.

Time-Dependent Effects of Caraway Essential Oil on the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Rapeseed, Olive, and Grapeseed Oils

Time-Dependent Effects of Caraway Essential Oil on the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Rapeseed, Olive, and Grapeseed Oils

Carotenoid deposition in yolks of laying hens fed with corn diets differing in grain hardness and supplemented with rapeseed oil and emulsifier

This study investigated the effects of supplementing diets consisting of two dent corn hybrids (soft- and hard-type) with different amounts of rapeseed oil (2, 3, and 4%) and with (0.05%) or without emulsifier (Lysoforte Extended, Kemin) on the content and deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk. The feeding trial was conducted with 216 Lohmann Brown laying hens which were by 3 located in 72 cages. The cages were randomly assigned to 12 dietary treatments (2 hybrids × 3 rapeseed oil levels × 2 emulsifier levels), resulting in 6 cages (replicates) per each dietary treatment. After depletion, hens were fed treatment diets without added pigment for 7 wk. After stabilization of the carotenoid profile (lutein, zeaxanthin, α- and β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene and total carotenoids), eggs were collected once a week until the end of the experiment and deposition efficiency was calculated based on carotenoid content in yolk and diets, yolk weight, egg production and diet intake. Corn hybrid and rapeseed oil affected (P < 0.05) the yolk content and deposition efficiency of most carotenoids. Moreover, a significant (P < 0.05) hybrid × rapeseed oil level interaction for all carotenoids indicated hybrid-specific responses to rapeseed oil supplementation. In the soft-type hybrid, the addition of 3% rapeseed oil enhanced the carotenoid content compared to 2% of rapeseed oil, whereas for the hard-type hybrid, 2 and 3% of rapeseed oil resulted in similar contents. Supplementation of 4% rapeseed oil reduced the content regardless of the hybrid. Emulsifier addition positively affected (P < 0.05) the deposition efficiency of all carotenoids except β-carotene. In conclusion, supplementing corn diets with rapeseed oil and emulsifier affected carotenoid utilization and these responses varied in hybrids differing in grain hardness, which should be considered when using corn as the sole source of carotenoids in hen diets.

Comprehensive identification, characterization, and expression analysis of the MORF gene family in Brassica napus

BackgroundRNA editing in chloroplast and mitochondrion transcripts of plants is an important type of post-transcriptional RNA modification in which members of the multiple organellar RNA editing factor gene family (MORF) play a crucial role. However, a systematic identification and characterization of MORF members in Brassica napus is still lacking.ResultsIn this study, a total of 43 MORF genes were identified from the genome of the Brassica napus cultivar “Zhongshuang 11”. The Brassica napus MORF (BnMORF) family members were divided into three groups through phylogenetic analysis. BnMORF genes distributed on 14 chromosomes and expanded due to segmental duplication and whole genome duplication repetitions. The majority of BnMORF proteins were predicted to be localized to mitochondria and chloroplasts. The promoter cis-regulatory element analysis, spatial-temporal expression profiling, and co-expression network of BnMORF genes indicated the involvement of BnMORF genes in stress and phytohormone responses, as well as growth and development.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of BnMORF genes and lays a foundation for further exploring their physiological functions in Brassica napus.

Genome-wide characterization of Remorin gene family and their responsive expression to abiotic stresses and plant hormone in Brassica napus.

Remorin proteins could be positively related to salt and osmotic stress resistance in rapeseed. Remorins (REMs) play a crucial role in adaptations to adverse environments. However, their roles in abiotic stress and phytohormone responses in oil crops are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified 47 BnaREM genes in the B.napus genome. Phylogenetic relationship and synteny analysis revealed that they were categorized into 5 distinct groups and have gone through 55 segmental duplication events under purifying selection. Gene structure and conserved domains analysis demonstrated that they were highly conserved and all BnaREMs contained a conserved Remorin_C domain, with a variable N-terminal region. Promoter sequence analysis showed that BnaREM gene promoters contained various hormones and stress-related cis-acting elements. Transcriptome data from BrassicaEDB database exhibited that all BnaREMs were ubiquitously expressed in buds, stamens, inflorescences, young leaves, mature leaves, roots, stems, seeds, silique pericarps, embryos and seed coats. The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that most of them were responsive to ABA, salt and osmotic treatments. Further mutant complementary experiments revealed that the expression of BnaREM1.3-4C-1 in the Arabidopsis rem1.3 mutant restored the retarded growth phenotype and the ability to resistance to salt and osmotic stresses. Our findings provide fundamental information on the structure and evolutionary relationship of the BnaREM family genes in rapeseed, and reveal the potential function of BnaREM1.3-4C-1 in stress and hormone response.

Sustainable foams from hemp, lignin, xylan, pectin, and glycerol: tunable via reversible citric acid crosslinking for absorption and insulation applications

This study investigates the development of sustainable multifunctional foams utilizing hemp stalk waste, lignin, xylan, pectin, glycerol, and citric acid. Using the freeze-drying method for foam formation in combination with industrial waste products and renewable resources, we emphasize a green, scalable material development approach. In total, 25 distinct formulations were prepared and methodically examined, mainly focusing on the roles of citric acid, pectin, and glycerol. Thermal crosslinking, conducted at 140°C, was analyzed using FTIR, confirming the formation of ester bonds. The microstructural characterization of the foams revealed distinct variations from nanofibrillar to microfibrillar structures based on composition. The bulk density of the foams ranged from 13 to 152 mg/cm3, and porosity values varied from 97 % to 99 % for most of the compositions. Foams showed up to 50 g/g water, 51 g/g rapeseed oil, and 46 g/g kerosine absorption. Foam absorption capacity changes were examined through 10 iterative cycles in water, demonstrating that most compositions retained near-original absorption capacities. Adding glycerol conferred exceptional hydrophobic properties to the foam surfaces, as evidenced by water contact angles ranging between 140° and 150°. The thermal conductivity of foams ranged from 0.040 to 0.046 W/mK. The mechanical properties of foams were assessed using compression testing, which showed highly tunable structures ranging from soft to rigid. This study illustrates the broad applicability of these foams, emphasizing their utility in thermal insulation, filtration systems, and environmental cleanup, among other potential uses.

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of quaternary ammonium compounds from natural oils

Quaternary ammonium salts refer to any class of salt derived from ammonium in which the nitrogen atom is attached to four organic groups covalently, as in benzalkonium chloride (R4N+). Quaternary ammonium compounds were synthesized from Canola oil (Brasssicanapus) and Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) extracts by reacting the oils with N,N-diethylethylenediamine in the presence of potassium tertiary butoxide as catalyst. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometric analyses of the starting materials, the intermediates and the final products were conducted, the results showed a disappearance of the carbonyl (C=O) stretch of an ester (the oil) at 1744cm-1 and appearance of N-H band of an amide at 3433cm-1, which resulted from the quaternization of benzyl chloride with the intermediates for both oils. Other functional groups such as C=C and C-H stretch of aromatic compound, C=O stretch of an amide were also observed.Mass spectrometric analysis of the final products were conducted and results showed the Molecular Ion peak (M+) which is the molecular weights of the products. Vital fragments such as base peaks were observed for both quats, other fragmented radical cations were observed.Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) exhibited excellent anti-bacterial activity covering a diameter of 22 mm and 28 mm of E. coli for QACs from Cocos nucifera and Brassic anapus oils respectively as compared to the standard antibiotic (Ampillicin).

Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation of Winter Oilseed Rape, with Special Attention Being Paid to the Role of Brassinosteroids.

Winter plants acclimate to frost mainly during the autumn months, through the process of cold acclimation. Global climate change is causing changes in weather patterns such as the occurrence of warmer periods during late autumn or in winter. An increase in temperature after cold acclimation can decrease frost tolerance, which is particularly dangerous for winter crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of brassinosteroids (BRs) and BR analogues as protective agents against the negative results of deacclimation. Plants were cold-acclimated (3 weeks, 4 °C) and deacclimated (1 week, 16/9 °C d/n). Deacclimation generally reversed the cold-induced changes in the level of the putative brassinosteroid receptor protein (BRI1), the expression of BR-induced COR, and the expression of SERK1, which is involved in BR signal transduction. The deacclimation-induced decrease in frost tolerance in oilseed rape could to some extent be limited by applying steroid regulators. The deacclimation in plants could be detected using non-invasive measurements such as leaf reflectance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and gas exchange monitoring.

Soil selenium enhanced the resistance of oilseed rape to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by optimizing the plant microbiome.

Plant can recruit beneficial microbes to enhance their ability to resist disease. Selenium is well established as a beneficial element in plant growth, but its role in mediating microbial disease resistance remained poorly understood. Here, we investigated the correlation between selenium, oilseed rape rhizosphere microbes and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Soil application of 0.5 and 1.0mg/kg selenium significantly increased the resistance of oilseed rape to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum compared with no selenium application, and the disease inhibition rate was higher than 20%. The disease resistance of oilseed rape was related to rhizosphere microorganisms, and beneficial bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere inhibited Sclerotinia stem rot. Burkholderia cepacia, and synthetic community enhanced plant disease resistance through transcriptional regulation and activated plant-induced systemic resistance to protect plants. Besides, inoculation of isolated bacteria optimized the bacterial community structure of leaves and enriched beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas. Bacillus isolated from the leaves were sprayed on the detached leaves, and it also performed a significant inhibition effect on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Overall, our results suggested that selenium drive plant rhizosphere microorganisms to increase resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in oilseed rape.

HaploMAGIC: Accurate phasing and detection of recombination in multiparental populations despite genotyping errors.

Recombination is a key mechanism in breeding for promoting genetic variability. Multiparental populations constitute an excellent platform for precise genotype phasing, identification of genome-wide crossovers, estimation of recombination frequencies and construction of recombination maps. Here, we introduce haploMAGIC, a pipeline to detect crossovers in multiparental populations with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by exploiting the pedigree relationships for accurate genotype phasing and inference of grandparental haplotypes. haploMAGIC applies filtering to prevent false positive crossovers due to genotyping errors, a common problem in high-throughput SNP analysis of complex plant genomes. Hence it discards haploblocks not reaching a specified minimum number of informative alleles. A performance analysis using populations simulated with AlphaSimR revealed that haploMAGIC improves upon existing methods of crossover detection in terms of recall and precision, most notably when genotyping error rates are high. Furthermore, we constructed recombination maps using haploMAGIC with high-resolution genotype data from two large multi-parental populations of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus). The results demonstrate the applicability of the pipeline in real-world scenarios and showed good correlations in recombination frequency compared with alternative software. Therefore, we propose haploMAGIC as an accurate tool at crossover detection with multiparental populations that shows robustness against genotyping errors.

Potential of Foliar Applied Nano Fertilizer in Improving the Growth, Yield and Quality of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus)

A field experiment was conducted in the Research farm of the School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Punjab to find out the potential of foliar-applied nano fertilizer in improving the growth, yield and quality of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The experiment consisted of five treatments viz. T1: Control, T2: 50% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS, T3: 75% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS, T4: 100% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS and T5: 125% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS. The application of 100% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as a foliar spray at 30 DAS (T4) recorded the highest plant height (184.75 cm), seed yield (22.80 q ha-1) and stover yield (49 q ha-1). More oil (43.32%) and protein (31.73%) content were also recorded in T4 as compared to other treatments. The overall results showed that foliar application of nano fertilizer in combination with conventional fertilizer significantly improved the growth, yield and quality of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus).

Knockout of stigmatic ascorbate peroxidase 1 (APX1) delays pollen rehydration and germination by mediating ROS homeostasis in Brassica napus L.

The successful interaction between pollen and stigma is a critical process for plant sexual reproduction, involving a series of intricate molecular and physiological events. After self-compatible pollination, a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been observed in stigmas, which is essential for pollen grain rehydration and subsequent pollen tube growth. Several scavenging enzymes tightly regulate ROS homeostasis. However, the potential role of these ROS-scavenging enzymes in the pollen-stigma interaction in Brassica napus remains unclear. Here, we showed that the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was modulated depending on the compatibility of pollination in B. napus. We then identified stigma-expressed APX1s and generated pentuple mutants of APX1s using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. After compatible pollination, the BnaAPX1 pentuple mutants accumulated higher levels of H2O2 in the stigma, while the overexpression of BnaA09.APX1 resulted in lower levels of H2O2. Furthermore, the knockout of BnaAPX1 delayed the compatible response-mediated pollen rehydration and germination, which was consistent with the effects of a specific APX inhibitor, ρ-Aminophenol, on compatible pollination. In contrast, the overexpression of BnaA09.APX1 accelerated pollen rehydration and germination after both compatible and incompatible pollinations. However, delaying and promoting pollen rehydration and germination did not affect the seed set after compatible and incompatible pollination in APX1 pentuple mutants and overexpression lines, respectively. Our results demonstrate the fundamental role of BnaAPX1 in pollen rehydration and germination by regulating ROS homeostasis during the pollen-stigma interaction in B. napus.

Biophoton emission-based approach of the effects of systemic insecticides on the survival of Eurydema ventralis Kolenati, 1846 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and on the photosynthetic activity of oilseed rape

The choice of effective crop protection technologies is a key factors in the economical production of oilseed rape. Insecticides belonging to the group of active substances butenolides and diamides are active substances available as seed treatments in oilseed rape and promising control tools in the crop protection technologies. Our laboratory experiment demonstrated that the experimental insecticides flupyradifurone and cyantraniliprole are both effective against Eurydema ventralis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) when used as a seed and in-crop treatments, but there is a fundamental difference in their insect mortality inducing effects. Flupyradifurone was found to have a total mortality 96 h after application based on basipetal translocation. In the case of cyantraniliprole, the insecticidal effect of the same treatment was 27% less. The experiment showed that the acropetal translocation of the tested active substances after seed treatment did not induce efficacy comparable to that of the basipetal translocation. The study of the biophoton emission of the plants demonstrated a verifiable correlation between the different application methods of the insecticides and the photon emission intensity per unit plant surface area. In conclusion, the systematic insecticides tested, in addition to having the expected insecticidal effect, interfere with plant life processes by enhancing photosynthetic activity.