Female reproductive organs of Brassica napus are more sensitive than male to transient heat stress

Abstract

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is sensitive to heat stress during the reproductive stage, but it is not clear whether the male and female reproductive organs differ in their sensitivity to heat stress. In this study, full diallel crossing experiments were conducted among four genotypes of B. napus under control, moderate and high heat stress conditions for five days immediately before and two days after crossing. General combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effects were analyzed to evaluate the genetic basis of heat stress tolerance in male and female reproductive organs. High female temperature (Tf) and high male temperature (Tm) reduced the number of fertile pods and seeds set per floret, and the significant Tf × Tm interaction indicated that female reproductive organs were more sensitive to heat stress than male reproductive organs. There were no overall GCA, SCA or reciprocal effects across all combinations of Tf and Tm. However, a significant reciprocal × Tf effect was found, suggesting that genotypes differed in their ability to set fertile pods and seeds as Tf increased. The relative heat tolerance of G1 as a female increased as Tf increased, and the relative heat tolerance of G2 as a male decreased as Tf increased. In summary, reciprocal diallel crossing has demonstrated that female reproductive organs of B. napus are more sensitive than male to transient heat stress at the early flowering stage, and genotypes differ in relative heat tolerance in the male and female reproductive organs as Tf increases.

Quantitative Trait Loci for Heat Stress Tolerance in Brassica rapa L. Are Distributed across the Genome and Occur in Diverse Genetic Groups, Flowering Phenologies and Morphotypes

“…Using similar transient temperature stress for 7 days after the first open flower, Annisa et al [ 4 ] found genetic variation in pod and seed number following heat stress in six spring-type B. rapa accessions. Chen et al [ 17 ] found that transient heat stress negatively affected male and female reproductive organs of B. napus, with female organs more sensitive than male organs to heat stress.…”

“…Based on our previous experience that heat stress has its greatest impact during the reproductive stage in B. rapa and B. napus [ 4 , 13 , 14 , 17 ], we evaluated a genetically diverse global collection of B. rapa germplasm for heat stress tolerance following simulated transient daily heat stress after the first open flower on the main stem of well-watered plants. We included a range of morphotypes (leafy, rooty and oilseed types) and flowering phenologies (spring, winter and semi-winter types).…”