Effect of photon irradiation on seed propagation and seedling growth of Radish and Spinach

Abstract

Pitchaikannu Venkatraman*, Lalit Mohan Aggarwal, Sunil Choudhary, Sureka CS, Premkumar Sellan, Raja Kannanannan, Sakthivel. C and Mabelrani S

An investigation was conducted to assess the impact of different doses (Control, 01 Gy, 05 Gy, and 10 Gy) of photon radiation from a 6 MV Linear Accelerator (LINAC) on the germination of Radish and Spinach seeds and subsequent seedling development in controlled conditions. The results revealed that irradiated seeds displayed improved germination rates, accompanied by increased lengths of seedlings and leaves, as well as higher fresh and dry weights in the leaves of seedlings. However, elevated radiation doses induced stress, leading to significant reductions in all measured parameters.

The highest seed germination percentage, at 65.6%, was observed twenty days after the commencement of the study in seeds exposed to 01 Gy photon radiation, followed closely by those exposed to 05 Gy radiation. At forty days into the experiment, the highest initiation of shoot growth, at 75.9%, was again noted with 10 Gy photon radiation, closely followed by 05 Gy. Radiation doses exceeding 10 Gy resulted in marked declines across all parameters. By day sixty, the largest leaf sizes were recorded from seeds exposed to 10 Gy photon radiation, measuring 1.9 cm and 3.8 cm, respectively.

At the end of sixty days, the most favorable outcomes in terms of seedling and leaf lengths, fresh weight, and dry matter content were observed with 01 Gy photon radiation, with measurements of 9.6 cm, 6.7 cm, 0.39 g, 0.09 g, and 471.6 mg/g fresh tissue, respectively. This study highlights the importance of acknowledging that the stimulating effects of low doses of photon radiation on germination and seedling growth may not be consistent.