COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT WINTER OILSEED RAPE VARIETIES' PREPAREDNESS FOR OVERWINTERING

Abstract

This study was conducted in the autumn of 2023 in the northern part of Lithuania, in the Radviliškis district. It focused on evaluating the overwintering potential of five hybrid winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) varieties: 'Mercedes', 'DK Exbury', 'Triathlon', 'Jurek', and 'Duplo'. The goal was to assess how well these varieties were prepared for surviving the winter. The research evaluated four key factors related to successful overwintering: plant density, primary root length, root neck diameter, and apical bud height. These parameters were used to compare the varieties and determine which were best and worst prepared for winter survival.

The results showed that all varieties met the established standards for plant density, root length, and root neck diameter. However, the apical bud height was higher than the recommended values. Based on these findings, the varieties 'Jurek', 'Triathlon', and 'Mercedes' showed the greatest readiness for winter survival, while 'Duplo' was the least likely to survive the winter.