IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE STRESS ON THE FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY OF Brassica napus SEEDLINGS

The aim of present study was to explore the deteriorating impact of temperature stress on morpho-physiological attributes and photosynthetic pigments of Brassica napus L. seedlings exposed to oxidative stress caused by high (40°C) and low (4°C) temperature. For this, experiments were carried out at the Senior Laboratory, P.G. Department of Botany, Khalsa College, Amritsar. Effect of different degrees of temperature (4°C and 40°C) on double distilled water primed seedlings of B. napus L. was investigated. Different degrees of temperatures used in present study showed diverse effect on shoot, root length and light quenching pigments such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids content. Low temperature (4°C) treatment depreciate all aspects of growth and physiology by diminishing photosynthetic pigments and altering the carbon makeup negatively as compared to control, Although high temperature treatment also deteriorated all the attributes of growth, physiological and biochemical components as compared to control and low temperature treated seedlings. In conclusion both low and high temperature (4°C & 40°C) decrease the amelioration of morphophysiological components, reallocation of nutrients and modulation of photosynthetic machinery.