The influence of β-alanine derivative products on spring oilseed rape yield and oil quality

Abstract

In 2012–2014, field experiments were conducted at Rumokai Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry with a view to estimating the effects of different concentrations of N-phenyl-N-(5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-β-alanine sodium salt (NPNDT) on spring oilseed rape. Field experiments showed that 125 mg l-1 NPNDT solution had the greatest effect on plant growth. In this treatment, the number of secondary branches increased by 54%, the rapeseed yield by 23% compared with the control treatment. The highest seed number per silique (24.5 seeds, or 7.5% higher than in the control) was determined in the treatment where oilseed rape seedlings had been sprayed with 75 mg l-1 NPNDT solution. The highest oil and protein contents in rapeseed were determined in the 75 mg l-1 NPNDT treatment. Compared with the control, a statistically significant increase in rapeseed oil amounted to 137.9 kg ha-1 or 17% and protein content to 6.2 g 100 g-1 or 31%. The increase in rapeseed yield was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in all treatments. The increase of oil content was positively correlated with the seed yield increase (P < 0.05) when oilseed rape was sprayed with the 50 mg l-1 concentration of NPNDT solution. The NPNDT had a positive effect on oil quality. It increased protein and flavonoid contents, reduced ash content in rapeseed and increased DPPH radical scavenging in rapeseed extract.