The effects of gamma irradiation on germination and morphological traits of some cereals, legumes and vegetables plantlets

One of priming methods to increase seed germination and seedling growth is gamma irradiation. In the present research, effects of various doses of gamma ray on germination and vegetative traits of cereals, legumes and vegetables were investigated. Irradiation was carried out using gamma cell with 60Co source of 7.8×102 Ci, with irradiation velocity of 0.087 g.s-1 in four levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 Gy) in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The results showed that germination in wheat, corn, chickpea, and tomato seeds had positive reaction to low doses of gamma radiation; However, bean and onion seed germination decreased with increasing germination dose. In mungbean, cucumber, and lettuce seeds, germination percentage increased for higher doses. The response of different seeds to gamma radiation levels is different, and for some seeds such as wheat, corn, mungbean, chickpeas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, priming with gamma irradiation can be used to increase the percentage of germination and seedling growth. In other vegetative traits no increment was observed in beans, onions, and mungbean, compared to control but the seeds of chickpeas, wheat, corn, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato increased compared to control and showed a positive reaction to priming with gamma irradiation.