Effect of gamma irradiation on germination and agronomic parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Abstract

These experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the gamma irradiation seeds of four maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes (Var-113, Hudiba-1, Hudiba-2 and mug45). Four doses of gamma irradiation ranged from 50-200 GY (50, 100, 150 and 200GY). A laboratory and two field experiments were conducted. The laboratory experiment studied the germination percentage, shoot, root and shoot to root ratios of the germinated seedling, the obtained results revealed that the growth of the four genotypes was decreased with increasing of gamma irradiation doses. The field experiments were conducted to investigate the genetic variability among genotypes mean growth performances, such as days to flowering (tasseling & silking), plant and ear height and grain yield in two locations Shambat, College of Agricultural Research studies and Medani experimental farm of Agricultural Research Corporation. During the summer season of 2014, then there were a ranged in randomized complete block design with three replicates. The obtained results in field were shown that there were a significant difference among genotypes and doses (zero and 50GY), for genotypes and their interaction for most of the studied characters. This significance could be added of a great value for best selection in maize breeding for desirable traits. From this study, it could be conducted that, the gamma rays have negative effect on the germinations of the seedlings of maize genotypes. The increasing of the gamma irradiation decreased the growth of the germination. The genotypes treated with the high doses (150-200GY) were germinated but they failed to survive after 10 days from their germination. In addition the dose 100GY failed in the two locations, therefore, the suitable dose was 50 GY in both lab and field condition. The results of this study revealed that the availability of using gamma irradiation in any maize breeding program in the future.