Preliminary investigation effects of physical mutagen (x-rays) on germination and morphological parameters of Dennettia tripetala bak.f at early growth

Abstract

Dennettia tripetala is a slow growing plant species. It has many medicinal uses. Fresh fruits of D. tripetala were collected from a mother tree. The seeds were exposed to different few x-ray doses using medical x-ray device. The same soil medium was used to raise the seedlings. Experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design inside a greenhouse with five replicates. It was carried out for the period of thirteen months. Data on germination percent and morphological parameters such as root length, seedling height, number of leaf (leaf production), leaf area, basal diameter were taken for the statistical analysis. High germination percent was induced by the different doses (1,2,4,6 and 8 MGy) of x-rays. Germination occurred in control seeds and seeds treated with 6 MGy after 19 days of sowing, but it delayed to twenty-three days in other treatments (1, 2, 4 and 8 MGy). The highest mean germination (93.3 %) was recorded among the treated seeds. The least mean germination (72.3 %) was recorded in control. In this preliminary study, it was deduced that the response of each morphological parameter to the doses were varied. Some parameters were stimulated by some doses and some parameters were not stimulated by some doses of X-rays.