Response of three Brassica species to high temperature stress during reproductive growth. Can. J. Plant Sci. 80: 693-701. The effect of short periods of high temperature stress on the reproductive development and yield of three Brassica species were studied in a growth chamber experiment conducted for 2 yr. Two genotypes from Brassica juncea L. and one each from B. napus L. and B. rapa L. were grown under day/night temperatures of 20/15°C till early flowering or early pod development, subjected to high temperature stress of 28/15°C or 35/15°C for 7 d and then allowed to recover at 20/15°C. Species differed in optimum temperatures, with B. juncea and B. rapa having higher optimum temperature than B. napus. Dry matter was unaffected by moderate temperature stress, while it was reduced by high temperature stress. The 35/15°C treatment was injurious to reproductive organs at different developmental stages of all three species. High temperatures at flowering affected yield formation more than high temperature at pod development. On the main stem, mean seed yield reduction due to heat stress was 89%, but partial compensation by pods on the branches reduced mean per-plant seed yield decrease to 52%. Reduction in fertile pods (not total pod number), thousand seed weight and seeds per pod were responsible for the reduced seed yield. Brassica rapa was more sensitive to heat stress than B. napus and B. juncea. Although observation did not indicate the exact developmental phase when the reproductive organs were susceptible to heat stress, pods that passed a critical threshold developmental phase tolerated heat stress, which explained the smaller effect of high temperature stress at pod development. A direct temperature effect on reproductive organs appeared to be responsible for the reduction in yield. All genotypes began to recover from the stress by continuing flowering after returning to 20/15°C. Brassica napus was least able to recover from severe stress at flowering, as evidenced by the formation of many abnormal pods during recovery. Per-plant yield response of canola-quality B. juncea line J90-4316 was similar to oriental mustard Cutlass. Thus, heat stress effect depends on the growth stage of canola and mustard and Brassica species differ in heat stress response. napus. La production de matière sèche ne souffrait pas d'un stress thermique modéré (28°C), mais elle était réduite en présence d'un stress élevé (35°C). Chez les 3 espèces, le régime 35°/15°C avait des effets néfastes sur les organes de reproduction à divers stades de leur formation. Des hautes températures à la floraison nuisaient davantage au rendement que quand elles survenaient lors de la formation des siliques. Sur la tige principale, la diminution moyenne de rendement grainier résultant d'un stress thermique était de 89 %, mais pour l'ensemble de la plante, elle n'était que de 52 %, grâce à une compensation partielle opérée par les ramifications. Le manque à produire résultait de la diminution du nombre de siliques fertiles (pas du nombre total de si...

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SummaryConventional methods of weed management in vine yards rely primarily on herbicides and tillage. The desire to adopt alternatives to these methods is driven by environmental and economic reasons. Weed suppression and grape yield under mulched cover crop systems at two rainfed northern California vineyards were similar to, and at times exceeded, those under conventional tillage or herbicide management. Cover crop productiv ity was positively correlated with weed suppression and mulch decomposition rates and seemed to be determined primarily by location and then by cover crop type. The mulch from mowed cover crops averaged 603(± 94) gm )2 at the two sites. Weed suppression was linked to light interception by the mulch cover for most weed species. Subterranean clover planted directly in the vine row significantly reduced weed cover where it established. The increased dominance of the perennial Convolvulus arvensis and reduction of certain annual species was indicative of species compositional changes in all treatments. Profits under the cover cropping systems exceeded those under con ventional tillage and herbicide systems by € 794 ha )1 averaged over the duration of the experiment at both locations.