Results
Title

Gamma radiation effects on growth and yield attributes of Psoralea corylifolia L. with reference to enhanced production of psoralen.

Authors

Jan, Sumira; Parween, Talat; Siddiqi, T. O.; Mahmooduzzafar

Abstract

The present work describes radiation-induced effects on vegetative, reproductive traits and psoralen content in Psoralea corylifolia L. The effects of gamma radiation on Psoralea seeds were investigated by exposing seeds with doses of 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kGy at dose rate of 1.65 kGyh and studying the plant growth at three developmental stages: preflowering, flowering and post flowering (seed to seed) after irradiation. Irradiation with lower doses of gamma rays significantly improved vegetative traits while higher doses proved depressing for same parameters. Similar trend was followed in reproductive traits. Psoralen, showed highest concentration in seeds (7.56%) at 20 kGy and lowest in control roots (0.23%). Increment in psoralen was striking for higher gamma doses applied. These long-term changes in plant development may be attributed to alteration in plant genome induced by irradiation. The results show in depth development stimulation and enhancement of secondary metabolite in Psoralea corylifolia L. following low and high dose treatment respectively depicting the potential of gamma rays in plant biotechnology and metabolomics.

Subjects

PSORALEA; LEGUMES; GAMMA rays; PLANT growth; PLANT biotechnology

Publication

Plant Growth Regulation, 2011, Vol 64, Issue 2, p163

ISSN

0167-6903

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s10725-010-9552-z