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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #335528

Title: Degree days to 50% flowering for 12 cultivars of spring canola-like mustard

Author
item HUNTER, K - Texas Agrilife Research
item Archer, David
item Gesch, Russell - Russ
item Vigil, Merle
item Hatfield, Jerry
item Allen, Brett
item Jabro, Jalal - Jay
item KIM, S - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item MEKI, M - Texas Agrilife Research
item Kiniry, James

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2017
Publication Date: 5/1/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5695469
Citation: Hunter, K.M., Archer, D.W., Gesch, R.W., Vigil, M.F., Hatfield, J.L., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Kim, S., Meki, M.N., Kiniry, J.R. 2017. Degree days to 50% flowering for 12 cultivars of spring canola-like mustard. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International. 11(4):1-8.

Interpretive Summary: Previous project using computer simulations for canola have been based on the plant growth numbers established in the Northern Great Plains. With recent advances in canola breeding, establishing growth numbers for newly developed varieties is essential for computer modeling applications. We focused this research on the temperatures from each location from planting to the date of 50% flowering and calculated summed degree days (SDD). It appears that the SDD for each of these mustard varieties is relatively stable and similar to the potential heat units previously established for Polish canola in an earlier study.

Technical Abstract: Previous growth modeling efforts for canola simulations have been based on the growth parameters previously established in the Northern Great Plains. However, with advances in canola genetics, establishing parameters for newly developed cultivars is essential for best modeling projections. The null hypothesis for the present study was that the summed degree day (SDD) to flowering for cultivars of canola-like mustards would have relatively stable values across a wide range of North American latitudes, simplifying modeling research. The alternate hypothesis was that the cultivars studied would differ in their SDD among regions and among cultivars. We focused this research on the temperatures from each location from planting to the date of 50% flowering to calculate summed degree days (SDD). It appears that the SDD for each of these mustard cultivars is fairly stable and similar to the potential heat units already established for B. rapa (Polish canola) in 1995.