Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is highly susceptible to boron (B) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies, yet knowledge of how these two essential elements interact to contribute to plant growth and crop yield is limited. To this end, a pot experiment with three P application rates (5, 75, and 150 mg P2O5 kg-1 dry soil) and two B application rates (0.25 and 1 mg B kg-1 dry soil) was conducted. The results showed that high P combined with high B optimized plant growth and facilitated P distribution forward to seeds compared with high P and low B combination at the maturity stage. Under low P conditions, low B supply was more beneficial for P absorption at seedling and bolting stages and increased P distribution ratio in seeds at the maturity stage, resulting in higher photosynthetic efficiency and growth parameters than low P and high B combination. Interestingly, high B supply could upregulate the expression of the P-starvation-induced gene BnaC3.SPX3 and P transport genes in roots under low P conditions, so low B-facilitated P absorption appears to be a BnaPHT1s-independent process. Significant differences of B and P interaction on the seed yield, net photosynthetic rate, and total P absorption and distribution at the maturity stage between two cultivars might reflect the distinct genotypic properties. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of balanced B and P nutrition which acts synergistically to modulate growth and yield formation of B. napus either in nutrition deficiency or sufficiency.
Keywords: Brassica napus; boron; interaction; nutrient balance; phosphorus; seed yield.