Influence of gamma rays on the morphological and agronomical parameters of seeds of a common wheat variety grown in Algeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different doses of gamma rays on morphological and agronomical parameters of wheat seeds (Anza). The experiment was conducted in the experimental station of the National School of Agricultural Sciences, El Harrach, Algiers (Algeria). The wheat crop was carried out on a plot in complete random block, by evaluating the growth and yield components of a crop, over two consecutive years, of this common wheat variety (Anza) grown in Algeria. Seeds samples were irradiated with low doses of gamma rays at 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 KGy (KiIoGry), while 0KGy dose was used as a control. The results showed that the number of germinated seeds was not affected by the irradiation treatment. The highest stem height was given by the control in both years, whereas in the first crop year, the 0.20KGy dose with the control showed the best spike length (8.97cm). In the second year, the highest number of raised feet/m2 was recorded with wheat at 0.20KGy (149). The evolution of yield components according to irradiation doses revealed that the highest number of spikes/m2 was also obtained from samples irradiated at 0.20KGy, the control gave the highest number of seeds by spike, while an improvement in 1000 grain weight was seen at 0.20KGy in both crops. The 0.20KGy dose also produced the highest grain yield at harvest of the two years (56 and 55q/ha). There was an interaction between the crop year and the radiation dose for the number of raised feet and the number of spikes/m2. The low gamma ray doses, particularly 0.20 KGy dose, contributed to the improvement of the morphological and agronomical properties of the local common wheat (Anza) grown in Algeria, including spike length, number of raised feet and spikes/m2, 1000 grain weight and grain yield.