Evaluation of the effect of pre-sowing electron irradiation of barley seeds on plant development and disease incidence

Abstract

The effect of electron irradiation of barley seeds of the Vladimir variety on the development of plants, disease incidence and productivity in controlled greenhouse conditions has been studied. It was found that the effectiveness of the effect of seed treatment with low-energy electronic radiation in the dose range of 30–150 kGy on the morphometric parameters of barley largely depends on the accelerating voltage – 130 kV (mode 1) and 160 kV (mode 2). It was noted that irradiation suppressed the formation of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids in barley leaves at all doses and irradiation regimes and, at the tendency level, reduced the infestation of Bipolaris sorokiniana plants in the tillering and heading phases. It was shown that irradiation of seeds caused an increase in the total tillering of plants (mode 2), but at the same time reduced the productive tillering. Electron irradiation caused an increase in the mass of 1000 grains and did not affect the yield of grain and straw.