Determination of Proper Gamma Radiation Doses in Sunflower Varieties

Abstract

In this study, different gamma radiation doses were applied to two sunflower varieties seeds to determine their effects on some plant characteristics in plants and to determine GR50 doses for effective mutation dose values in mutation breeding studies. The effect of gamma irradiation on the germination percentage and seedling height (cm) of two sunflower varieties were investigated at different doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 500 Gy). Gamma radiation was applied to seeds from Cesium-137 (137Cs) source. The trial was conducted as a split-plot experimental design in three replications. As a result, germination percentages of sunflower varieties were not affected with increasing radiation doses. But, as parallel to increasing doses applied of gamma radiation dose seedling height (cm) were affected negatively. On the other hand, the doses that decrease growth by 50 percent (GR50) for AS508 and Nantio were found to be 148 Gy and 165 Gy, respectively.

Keywords: Helianthus annuus L, GR50 dose, M1 plants.

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-9-04