Growth and Anti-fungal Effect of Gamma Radiation Treated Chitosan and Alginate on Pineapple Plants

Abstract

Promising materials to reduce the use of chemical compounds in cultivation are natural biomaterials. Chitosan and sodium alginate were subjected to a Co-60 gamma treatment in this research. Different concentrations of chitosan (300 ppm), sodium alginate (500 ppm), and a mixed solution (90:10 irradiated Na-alginate: chitosan) were administered through foliar spraying with intervals of 15 and 30 days to observe the impacts on growth and anti-fungal activity. The growth attributes like total number of leafs, productivity of growing and mature leafs and anti-fungal activities were determined up to five months. When sprayed 15 days apart, the mixed solution was found to increase the output of pineapple plants and the height of mature leaves, whereas sodium alginate was found to increase the productivity of growing leaves when sprayed at 30-day intervals. The findings showed that sodium alginate and chitosan that had been irradiated both significantly improved productivity and decreased total fungal count.