GROWTH PATTERN ANALYSIS OF THREE RAPESEED CULTIVARS

Abstract

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) cvs. Nugget, Oro, and Target were observed in the field on a single plant basis to evaluate growth stages, growth periods, rates of development and the relationships among these characters. Target exhibited many characteristics which would tend to make it a late variety. However, Target was the earliest maturing cultivar and the major characteristic leading to earliness for Target was early first flower. In general, the correlations among growth characters were low. The correlations among growth stages indicated that earliness of initial growth stages contributes to earliness of subsequent growth stages. The time to first flower was a major factor in determining the time to maturity. Rapid development rates for different aspects of growth were positively associated with each other and with earliness of growth stages. Long periods of development prior to first flower were somewhat compensated for by a decrease in the length of subsequent periods.