Influence of gamma irradiation pre-sowing treatments on the seeds yield of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

Pre-sowing treatment of Moringa oleifera seeds by gamma radiation doses (0, 20, 40 and 60, Gy) to study the changes in yield characters. The yielded seeds phytochemical constituents were detected by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Also, the antioxidant compound (phenols and flavonoids) using Spectrophotometer and changes in DNA were detected using Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs). Genomic template stability percentage (GTS %) of DNA were calculated. Significant increases were observed in yield characters under gamma irradiation, also there were changes in the yielded seeds phytochemical constituents, phenol and flavonoid content significantly increased under irradiation comparing to the control (0Gy). Some unique bands as a result of gamma irradiation were detected using (ISSRs). The irradiation treatments 20Gy, 40Gy and 60Gy revealed changes in the number of amplified DNA bands comparing to the control. The changes reflected by the appearance of new bands and disappearance of bands, the lowest GTS (42.86%) recorded with 60Gy treatment, while the highest GTS (55.84%) recorded with 20 Gy treatment. Pre-sowing irradiation for seeds of the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera by gamma rays increase the yield of moringa tree also induced changes in seeds phytochemical constituents and increasing the antioxidant compounds (phenols and flavonoids). Alternations in DNA induced by gamma irradiation can be detected by ISSRs molecular marker.