Effect of Gamma Rays Irradiation on Seed Germination and Seedling Parameters in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
Anisa M Nimbal *
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sesame and Niger, MARS, UAS, Dharwad, India.
Anand Vishawakarma
Co-ordinating Unit, GNKVV, Jabalpur, M P, India.
Prabhavati N Rao
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sesame and Niger, MARS, UAS, Dharwad, India.
Malavika Mokashi
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sesame and Niger, MARS, UAS, Dharwad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out with the aim to understand the gamma ray sensitivity of three sesame varieties viz., DS-5, DSS-9 and Swetha irradiated with ten different doses of gamma rays ie., 250Gy to 700 Gy at 50 Gy intervals. Germination percentage, root and shoot length, seedling length decreased gradually in all the three varieties compared to control which is untreated. Swetha showed a maximum reduction in germination percentage (73.0%) than DSS-9 (74.0%) and DS-5 (76.5%) at 700 Gy. At a higher dose of 700 Gy, root 1(.17 cm) in DS-5 and shoot (2.47 cm) length of seedlings in DSS-9 were greatly inhibited. Based on all the biological parameters studied, the mutagen sensitivity of DSS-9 is higher than DS-5 and Swetha. The overall considerations on M1 generation effects showed that Swetha was least sensitive to gamma rays.
Keywords: Sesame, germination, seedling morphology, gamma radiation