Evaluating the role of gamma irradiation to ameliorate salt stress in corn

Abstract

Purpose

Salt stress is a significant issue in corn cultivation leading to corn yield reduction, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. Nuclear technologies, along with other standard methods, can be used as an efficient method for mitigating salt stress effects on plants.

Materials and methods

In this research, gamma irradiation (GI) was studied on seeds in the salt stress amelioration of corn in laboratory and field conditions. A total of five doses of gamma rays (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 Gy) were applied to corn seeds (SC.703) at the laboratory under saline and control conditions. The best gamma-ray treatment (25 Gy) was selected for studying corn under salt stress in the field condition.

Results

The length of the radicle, seminal roots and shoot, dry weight of radicle, and seminal roots were affected by salt stress (p <.001). However, GI affected only the radicle and seminal root length (p < .001). The radicle length was decreased as much as 3, 11, 17, 25, and 27% in 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 Gy of GI, respectively. In addition, the seminal root length was decreased in all GI treatments except 25 Gy (p < .05). Plants derived from seeds exposed to GI (25 Gy) had a higher chlorophyll content of 1, 17, and 29% at V3 (third leaf stage), R1 (silk stage, p < .001), and R4 (dough stage, p < .001), respectively. In GI treatment, the soluble carbohydrate content was significantly higher (p < .001) at all three measurement stages and the soluble protein was significantly higher (p < .001) only at the R4 stage. Moreover, proline content was higher in GI (25 Gy) at V3 (58%, p < .05) and R1 (98%, p < .001) treatment stages.

Conclusion

Since plants from gamma-irradiated seeds had a greater plant weight and their economic traits (cob and grain weight) were higher compared to control plants under salt stress conditions, it can be concluded that a low dose of GI may ameliorate the effect of salt stress on the corn plants.

Keywords:

• Photosynthetic pigments
• proline
• root length
• seed germination
• seedling growth
• Zea mays

Author contributions

ASM: Investigation, Methodology; MAN: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation; MB: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation; AB: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Validation; HK: Data curation, Formal analysis, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, and Writing – review & editing.

Disclosure statement

We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alireza Shaebani Monazam

Alireza Shaebani Monazam, MSc, Department of Animal, and Poultry Science, Aboureihan Campus, Tehran University, Iran.

Mohammad Ali Norouzian

Mohammad Ali Norouzian, PhD, Department of Animal, and Poultry Science, Aboureihan Campus, Tehran University, Iran.

Mehdi Behgar

Mehdi Behgar, PhD, Agricultural Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Iran.

Azam Borzouei

Azam Borzouei, PhD, Agricultural Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Iran.

Hedayat Karimzadeh

Hedayat Karimzadeh, PhD, Agricultural Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Iran.