Effects of seed size and seed weight on seedling establishment, vigour and tolerance of Argentine canola (Brassica napus) to flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp.

Abstract

A 3-yr study was conducted on four Brassica napus L. cultivars to determine the effects of seed size and seed weight on the performance and tolerance of canola seedlings to feeding damage by flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysom elidae). Seed lots of a doubled haploid cultivar Cyclone, hybrid cultivar AC H102 and two open-pollinated cultivars Profit and AC Elect were sieved to obtain small, medium, large and very large seeds (1.4–1.6, 1.6–1.8, 1.8–2.0 and 2.0–2.2 mm diameter, respectively). Under controlled environmental conditions, leaf area, shoot weight and biomass of seedlings from large and very large seeds were 1.3–2.0 times greater than those of seedlings from small seeds. Under field conditions without insecticides, seedlings from small seeds of each cultivar had the highest flea beetle damage, poorest establishment, and lowest shoot weight, biomass and yield. Compared with small seeds, large seeds improved seedling establishment, shoot weight, biomass and yield by 1.1, 1.6–2.0, 3.0–3.5 and 1.5 times, respectively. Results indicated that seedlings from large seeds are more vigorous and tolerant to flea beetle damage than seedlings from medium or small seeds. Seedling vigour and tolerance was due to a higher initial shoot biomass and higher growth rate when flea beetle damage was severe. When damage exceeded 50%, large heavy seeds had the best stand establishment, best shoot growth and highest yield in each cultivar. Key words: Canola, flea beetles, seed size, seed weight, seedling vigour, tolerance