Effect of Root Zone Temperature on Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) Response to Boron

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is sensitive to low boron (B) supply, and its growth response to B may be influenced by soil temperature. To test the relationship between B and temperature, oilseed rape (cv. Hyola 42) seedlings were grown at 10°C (low) root zone temperature (RZT) with B supply from deficient to adequate B levels until growth of low B plants just began to slow down. Half of the pots were then transferred to 20°C (warm) RZT for 11 days before they were moved back to 10°C RZT for the final 4 days. Both plant dry mass and B uptake increased after plants were exposed to warm RZT. However, plant B deficiency was exacerbated by warm RZT in low B plants because of increased relative growth rate and shoot–root ratio without a commensurate increase in B uptake rate. It is concluded that RZT above the critical threshold for chilling injury in oilseed rape can nevertheless affect the incidence of B deficiency by altering shoot–root ratio and hence the balance between shoot B demand and B uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]