Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) or Canola is an important oilseed crop produced and consumed globally. The predicted increase in the frequency of high-temperature events associated with climate change poses a threat to Canola productivity. In the present work, we report the impact of short-term heat stress on the reproductive fitness and yield components of Canola. Short heat stress episodes, especially above 36°C, resulted in diminished reproductive fitness due to reduced pollen viability and germinability. Heat stress exposure led to asynchronous male and female development and suppressed pollen development in developing buds. As the temperature increased above 32°C, the seed production decreased significantly. Temperatures beyond 38°C resulted in >50% reduction in total seed production and seed weight. Short-term heat stress also reduced yield components, seed vigour and post-harvest seed characteristics. Biochemical investigations of the seeds harvested from heat-stressed (40°C for 12 hr) plants showed decreased oil content along with a variable fatty acid composition. The omega-6/omega-3 ratios increased in response to heat stress indicated a possible decline in oil nutritional quality. Understanding the impact of short heat stress episodes can provide efficient heat tolerance screening tools and pave the way for developing heat stress-tolerant B. napus varieties.

中文翻译：

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开花期间的短期热应激导致油菜种子生产力下降

油菜 ( Brassica napus )) 或油菜是全球生产和消费的重要油料作物。与气候变化相关的高温事件频率的预测增加对油菜的生产力构成威胁。在目前的工作中，我们报告了短期热应激对油菜的繁殖适应性和产量成分的影响。短暂的热应激事件，尤其是高于 36°C 的温度，由于花粉活力和发芽能力降低，导致生殖适应性降低。热应激导致雄性和雌性发育不同步，并抑制发育中的花粉发育。随着温度升高到 32°C 以上，种子产量显着下降。超过 38°C 的温度导致种子总产量和种子重量减少 50% 以上。短期热应力也降低了屈服成分，种子活力和收获后种子特性。对从热应激（40°C，12 小时）植物中收获的种子进行的生化研究表明，油含量降低，脂肪酸组成可变。omega-6/omega-3 比率因热应激而增加，表明油的营养质量可能下降。了解短期热应激事件的影响可以提供有效的耐热性筛选工具，并为开发耐热应激性铺平道路乙。 油菜品种。