The effect of biostimulants on the glucosinolate content in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) seeds

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of biostimulants on the concentration of harmful sulphuric compounds called glucosinolates in the seed of three winter oilseed rape cultivars. An experiment was arranged as a split-split-plot design with three replications. The following factors were examined: I - three winter oilseed rape morphotypes: a population morphotype (cv. Monolit), a semi-dwarf restored cultivar (PR 44D06) and a standard restored cultivar (PT 205); II - two sowing methods: between-row spacing of 22.5 cm and 45.0 cm; III - four types of biostimulants: control, Tytanit (R), Asahi (R) SL and Silvit (R). The lowest concentration of glucosinolates was determined in the population cv. Monolit (on average 8.84 mu mol/g) and the highest in the restored semi-dwarf cv. PR 44D06 (on average 9.84 mu mol/g). Application of all of the biostimulants contributed to a significant decline in the concentration of harmful sulphuric compounds compared with control, the lowest concentration being recorded following the spraying with Silvit (R) (on average 8.88 mu mol/g). Statistical calculations did not confirm a significant effect of two sowing methods on the characteristics examined.