Research Paper on Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.

 

Baudouin K. Nyembo, Alexandre N. Mbaya, Calvin C. Ilunga, Jean-Louis N. Muambi and Luc L. Tshilenge wrote a research paper on  seed germination of Jatropha curcas L., entitle of "Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L."

This study aimed to assess the effects of different gamma radiation doses from Cobalt -60 isotopic source on seed germination and early growth parameters of Jatropha curcas L. Healthy and dry seeds were subjected to three doses of gamma rays (100, 200 and 300 Gy). The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design, with three replicates. 

The significantly maximum germination percentage (89.85 %), seedling survival (92.3 %), seedling collar diameter (0.892 cm), plant height (17.30 cm), number of leaves (7) were observed at 30 days after germination. The results revealed that seed germination percentages and seedling shoot length decreased with increasing dose of gamma-rays. 

Higher gamma-ray dose (300 Gy) in particular had a pronounced effect on these germination parameters than others, probably because high-dose inhibited cell division due to free radicals and DNA system damage. The LD50 for seeds germination rates was obtained at 254 Gy. These results implied that germination traits of Jatropha curcas seeds were sensitive to increase in gamma-ray. 

Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.|Ijaar vol-13-no-5-p-46-52 from Innspub Net

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Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to sodium chloride concentrations at early growth stages - IJAAR

• Y. Abdellatif Idris*, Siddig A.M. Ali

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zalingei, Sudan

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of NaCl concentrations on seed germination and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted in 2014 using maize seeds obtained from Ministry of Agriculture Central Darfur State, Sudan. Ten seeds were germinated in Petri dishes containing filter paper of 9cm diameter, whereas in the pot experiment, five healthy seeds were allowed to germinate in plastic pots containing loamy soil.

Treatments comprised of control (distilled water), 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2% of sodium chloride (Na Cl). Treatments were arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. Data recorded for the both experiments were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Least Significant Differences (LSD) method was used to test differences between treatments means at 5% and 1% probability levels. Results of the laboratory experiment showed that the number of germinated seeds was significantly affected by salinity level, especially by the higher salt concentration. Final germination percentage and seedling vigor index decreased with increasing salinity level. The highest seed germination percentage (97.5%) and seedling vigor index (2.49) were found with the control (0% NaCl) and the lower seed germination percentage (22.5) and seedling vigor index (0.05) were found with 2% concentration. Results indicated that the plumule length decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) as concentration of NaCl increased. The radical length followed the same trend of the plumule length, it was decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) as NaCl increased. Results of statistical analysis of pot experiments revealed that salinity made highly significant effects (p ≤ 0.01) for the investigated traits. It was observed that the highest seed germination percentage (95%), seedling vigor index (23.3), plumule length (24.7 cm), radical length (26.2 cm) plumule fresh and dry weights ( 1.95 & 0.24 g/plant ) and radical fresh and dry weights ( 1.66 &0.203 g/plant ) were observed in 0%NaCl (control). No seeds germinated in the 1% and above NaCl treatments.

Full Article Available at: Volume 6, Number 4, April 2015 – IJAAR
Published Journals: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)

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