Agriculture plays an
important role in poverty eradication and food security throughout the world.
In this regard, this study investigated the effects of gamma irradiation on
growth and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo). This experiment was
conducted at the University farm, Eastern University of Sri Lanka as a field
experiment during August 2023 to November 2023. Vigna mungo seeds were
exposed to Gamma irradiation by using "Gamma chamber 1200 Cobalt- 60"
research irradiator. The seeds were subjected to gamma irradiation doses of
20Gy, 40Gy, 60Gy, 80Gy, 100Gy with a control (0Gy). Treated seeds were planted
in poly bags with rooting media, thereafter seedlings were transplanted in open
field. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with
four replications.
The
study revealed that the treatments showed significant difference in treatment
T3 (40Gy) in comparison to treatment- control (0Gy) with increased plant height
(53.76%), number of leaves (65.44%), Leaflet width (1.96%), leaf area (56.22%),
chlorophyl content (11.3%), shoot fresh weight (71.36%), root fresh weight
(49.46%), total root length (15.71%), root volume (35.41%), nodulation
(112.57%), and yield characteristics as pod diameter (5.09%), total pod fresh
weight (149.13% ), number of pods per plant (81.55%), 100 seed weight (2.65%),
and total yield (166.51%). Further, all mutational characteristics (hairless
pods bearing plants, trailer type plant habit and 5-6 pods per cluster) were
observed in T3 (40Gy) and it showed highest values in mutation frequency by
increased percentages compared to the T6 (100Gy). Therefore, according to this
present study, there were significant (P<0.05) differences among the
treatments on the above-mentioned characteristics and the treatment T3 (40Gy)
is more suitable to create desirable characteristic in Vigna mungo especially
in MI-01 variety.
