Effects of presowing gamma irradiation on the photosynthetic pigments, sugar content and carbon gain of Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik

Abstract

To determine the effects of gamma radiation on the photosynthetic pigments, sugar content and total carbon gain, seeds of Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik. were irradiated with variable doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy) at the rate of 1.65 kGy h -1 from 60 Co gamma source. Cullen corylifolium represents an important Chinese medicine with adequate levels of secondary metabolites, thus we hypothesized that gamma irradiation could modulate primary metabolites which could supplement secondary metabolite levels. The seeds were then transferred to field for biochemical analysis at different developmental stages; pre-flowering, flowering and post-flowering. Gamma dosage at 10 kGy resulted in a significant increase in concentration of chlorophyll a (61.17%), chlorophyll b (93.18%) and total chlorophyll (71.66%), suggesting that low doses of radiation could activate photosynthetic pigment system while at 15 and 20 kGy dose resulted in depletion of such parameters. Sugar and total C analysis of plants irradiated at 10 kGy demonstrated significantly maximum (216.01%) sugar content in leaves at all developmental stages and significantly minimum (46.13%) and (57.81%) in plants raised from seeds irradiated at 15 and 20 kGy respectively. Effective stimulatory dose for C. corylifolium '11062' is 10 kGy. In contrast, the carotenoid content of the plants exposed to 15 and 20 kGy was maximum than control. Significance of such stimulation correlated with increasing C mass of the plant concerned is discussed in the light of newer aspects in research.

Influence of radio-grain priming on growth, antioxidant capacity, and yield of barley plants

“…Treatment with gamma radiation results increment of POD activity but decrement of CAT activity. In this concern, Jan et al [27] reported that gamma radiation increase antioxidant enzymes. Enzyme activation may be due to a modulatory effect of γ -radiation on enzyme structure [29] .…”

“…Moreover, it is a successful method in plant breeding programs. The magnitude effect of gamma (γ) rays depending on its dose and intensity [27] .…”

Response of Datura innoxia Linn. to Gamma Rays and Its Impact on Plant Growth and Productivity

“…Chlorophyll content may either decrease [26] or increase [27] due to irradiation, depending on the species. Low doses of gamma rays enhance chlorophyll synthesis by exciting the enzyme system along with improvement in yield components, while higher doses normally prove inhibitive [1,28,29]. The level of photosynthetic pigments, total carbohydrate, phenols and proline increased significantly due to c-radiation in Vigna sinensis grown under salt stress, thus alleviating the adverse effect of salinity [30].…”

Radiation environment in exploration-class space missions and plants’ responses relevant for cultivation in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems

“…Carotenoids plays an important role as detoxicant agents in radiation damage and ROS scavenging (Fukuzawa et al, 1998). An age and dose dependent increase was observed in carotenoids content in Cullen corylifolium leaves being maximum at pre-flowering followed by flowering and post-flowering stages (Jan et al, 2013), even if other studies showed a strong variation of these trends among cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. (Kim et al, 2004).…”