Histological characteristics of the Indigofera zollingeriana mutant 2 (M2) population resulting from gamma-ray irradiation grown in saline soil

Abstract

Abstract Indigofera zollingeriana plant has been used by Farmers as a feed plant, which contains high protein and is very good as a source of forage to increase livestock productivity. However, its development is constrained by the limited availability of land, so it is necessary to conduct research for its development on marginal land. This study aims to evaluate the effect of salinity on histological diversity of four populations of mutant 2 (M2) I. zollingeriana resulting from gamma-ray irradiation in saline fields. The study was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments of the M2 I. zollingeriana population resulting from gamma-ray irradiation with 6 replications. Plant population were irradiated at 0, 100, 200, and 300 gray. Parameters observed were: characteristics of stomata, tricoma and cuticle. The results showed that the diversity of stomata and cuticles were not significantly different in each treatment. However, the number of tricoma have a significant effect, namely on the parameter number of tricoma. The highest number of tricoma was found in the 200 gray with a number of 17. Significantly different from the other treatments (0, 100 and 300 gray) each obtained a total of 9.83, 12.17 and 11.67. It was concluded that the radiation dose at the 200 gray level has the genetic potential to be continued at the adaptation test stage to further support the formation of new salinity tolerant Indigofera varieties.