Quantifying plant biomass and seed production in camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) across a large range of plant densities: Modelling approaches

To date, there has been little agreement on supporting the hypothesis that how some key vegetative traits of camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz var. 'Soheil') are dependent on plant biomass. Therefore, the main aim of this investigation was to quantify the relationship between the size of camelina plants and seed production across a broad-range of plant densities through modelling approaches. To make a wide range of plant densities, a fan design was used in eight replicates in an experimental field at Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Iran. To quantify the relation between plant density and other plant traits, a regression analysis was carried out and the coefficient of determination (R-2) was considered to evaluate the goodness of fit model. A power model (y = ax(b)) could describe well the relationship between plant density (ranged 113-2905 plants m(-2)) and plant biomass, seed production, number of seeds per plant, stem diameter, and siliques number, with the coefficient of determination (R-2) values of 0.85, 0.87, 0.65, 0.64, and 0.90, respectively. The harvest indexes were 13.8%-26.9%, depending on plant density. Seed production per plant was positively correlated to the siliques number (r = 0.85), the branch number (r = 0.80), and the seed number (r = 0.99) which could be key components of camelina seed production per plant. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found among plant height, thousand-seed weight, and harvest index with seed production per plant. In conclusion, plant biomass could be considered an important trait to predict plant growth models of camelina. Also, a lower plant density of camelina can be compensated by a greater number of siliques, branches and seeds per plant.

Automated summary

There is little agreement on the relationship between key vegetative traits and plant biomass in camelina. This study aimed to quantify this relationship by modeling approaches. A power model could well describe the relationship between plant density and plant biomass, seed production, stem diameter, and siliques number, with high coefficients of determination. Higher numbers of siliques, branches, and seeds per plant can compensate for lower plant density in camelina.