The long-term effects of γ-radiation on the growth of Allium cepa plants

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term effects of gamma-radiation, including low-dose radiation, on growth parameters of onion (Allium cepa) seedling roots 6–10 days after irradiation.

Materials and methods

Onion seedlings were exposed to a ¹³⁷Cs gamma source at doses ranging from 0.1 to 10 grays (Gy). Responses of root and shoot length growth were studied 6 and 10 days after irradiation.

Results

Our results showed inhibition of the root and shoot length growth 6 days after exposure at all doses, including the low dose − 0.1 Gy. At a later point in time (day 10), root and shoot inhibition was only observed after irradiation at high doses (above 5 Gy), and that suggested the occurrence of cell repair after irradiation at low doses. The results indicated that the length of seedling roots was more sensitive to gamma-irradiation than the shoot length.

Conclusion

The results of the study suggested that short-term gamma-irradiation of onion seedlings (absorbed doses of 0.1−10 Gy) caused inhibition of plant growth 6 and 10 days after irradiation. The dose dependence of the onion root length was linear. The present study showed for the first time that short-term low-dose gamma-irradiation could induce long-term negative effects on plant growth.

Keywords:

• Allium cepa
• onion seedlings
• gamma-radiation
• low dose
• dose dependency

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Anastasiya Zueva (Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) for her valuable comments on the analysis of results.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was partly supported by grant of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Fund of Science – Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 18-44-240001.

Notes on contributors

Alexander Bolsunovsky

Alexander Bolsunovsky, DSc, PhD, is the Head of the Laboratory of Radioecology at the Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, Russia. He has considerable expertise in radioecology of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Elena Trofimova

Elena Trofimova, MSc, is a Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of Radioecology, Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Her areas of interest and research are plant physiology and radiobiology.

Dmitry Dementyev

Dmitry Dementyev, PhD, is a Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Radioecology, Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, Russia. His research and publication interests include radioecology and dosimetry.

Michail Petrichenkov

Michail Petrichenkov, PhD, is the Head of the Department for Radiation Research and Radiation Safety at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia. His area of interest is radiation research, including dosimetry of various radiation sources.