Biological Effects of Seed Irradiation by Synchrotron X Ray Beam in Young Bean Seedlings

Sonal Dhamgaye,Aanchal Shrotriya,Rekha Gadre,Vishal Dhamgaye,Nitu Gupta

doi:10.4236/abc.2019.92007

Abstract

Irradiated seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Rajmah using Synchrotron X Ray Beam (BL-07) in RRCAT, Indore at doses of 1, 10 and 20 Gy were used to raise the seedling and the effects on growth and biochemical constituents in 4 - 8 days, old seedlings were analyzed. The seed irradiation effect on seedling development up to about 4 - 5 days, % germination, seedling length and seedling vigor are significantly decreased at 10 and 20 Gy doses with strong -ve correlation. Other parameters, like relative water content, electrical conductivity and acid phosphatase activity are also decreased. Decrease in various biochemical constituents, like, protein and proline has shown significant reduction at 10 and 20 Gy and phenol at 1 - 20 Gy. However, peroxidase activity is increased at 1 and 10 Gy. Amongst the antioxidant enzymes, only superoxide dismutase activity has shown significant increase at 10 and 20 Gy. For seed irradiation (1 and 10 Gy) effect on seedling development up to 8 days involving transfer to hydroponic culture after 4 days, in shoot tissue, decrease in nitrate reductase activity and pigment content is observed, while nitrate reductase activity in root tissue is increased. The results demonstrate adverse effects on growth as well as biochemical constituents along with increased antioxidant effect in bean seedlings with irradiation of seeds at high dose of synchrotron X radiations. Also the nitrate assimilation and photosynthetic activity are reduced in shoot tissue with seed irradiation, however, increased nitrate reductase activity in roots suggests the involvement of NO signaling.

Highlights

Agricultural crops face several challenges in the form of stresses leading to huge crop destruction and an overall decrease in the crop yield due to altered gene expression and metabolism, changes in growth and physiological processes, etc. in the plants
The results demonstrate adverse effects on growth as well as biochemical constituents along with increased antioxidant effect in bean seedlings with irradiation of seeds at high dose of synchrotron X radiations
Rajmah purchased from Pahuja Seeds, New Delhi were irradiated by using Indus-2 Synchrotron X Ray Beam (BL-07) at RRCAT, Indore in the doses 1, 10 and 20 Gy

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural crops face several challenges in the form of stresses leading to huge crop destruction and an overall decrease in the crop yield due to altered gene expression and metabolism, changes in growth and physiological processes, etc. in the plants. One of the important crop plants is the legume, Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), that is grown for green vegetable and dry seeds. It has high protein, starch, dietary fiber and is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, molybdenum, thiamine, vitamine B6, folic acid, etc. Abiotic stress is a major global problem limiting crop productivity, as plants are being exposed to these in terrestrial environment. Ionising radiation, such as, ultraviolet, gamma and x-rays which occurs naturally, is the most hazardous stress for all living systems. Some reports provide evidence of a stimulating effect on growth when seeds or seedlings are exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation [5]. The seeds were exposed to various energies at BL-07, Indus-2 RRCAT, Indore for monitoring the effects

Methods

Results

Conclusion