Drought-induced modulation in growth and mineral nutrients in canola (Brassica napus L.)

A pot experiment was conducted to assess drought-induced modulation in growth and mineral composition of canola (brassica napus l.). four canola accessions [two drought tolerant (dunkeld and 24177) and two sensitive (24173 and pakola)] were grown in sandy loam soil. the plants of all four canola cultivars were subjected to three drought stress treatments i.e. normal watering (full field capacity),75% and 50% field capacity (fc) at two growth stages (vegetative stage and flowering stage). imposition of drought stress at different growth stages caused a significant decrease in shoot and root fresh and dry weights,shoot and root length,and shoot and root k+,ca2+,n and p. maximum reduction in these variables was observed at 50% fc in all canola accessions. the higher drought tolerance of dunkeld and 24177 measured in terms of shoot fresh and dry biomass was found to be associated with higher concentrations of k+ and n maintained in its shoot particularly at the flowering stage.