article · Agronomy
Radish seeds were exposed to varying gamma-ray doses between 0 and 80 Gy to examine their effects on plant growth, nutritional quality, and root metabolites. Seeds treated with doses up to 20 Gy retained high germination rates of at least 96 percent. Lower radiation doses stimulated vegetative development, with 10 Gy yielding the tallest plants and 40 Gy producing the highest number of leaves per plant. A dose of 20 Gy achieved the greatest root length, diameter, volume, and weight, whilst also producing the highest concentrations of plant pigments, vitamin C, and several organic acids. Irradiation enriched root mineral contents and raised levels of amino acids, anthocyanins, phenols, and flavonoids, leading to enhanced antioxidant activity that peaked at 40 Gy. Overall, low-dose seed irradiation stimulated root growth and enhanced the nutritional profile of red radishes.
Enhancing crop productivity and nutrient density is a key challenge for food production. This research demonstrates that pre-treating seeds with controlled, low doses of gamma radiation can stimulate growth, increase root yield, and elevate dietary compounds such as vitamin C and antioxidants. It shows how physical seed treatments can be used to improve the nutritional quality of commonly consumed root vegetables.
This research could inform pre-sowing seed enhancement protocols for commercial seed producers, horticultural nurseries, and vegetable growers aiming to increase crop yields and nutrient levels. Because the findings derive from experimental dose-response trials evaluating physiological and chemical traits, the technique represents early-stage research that requires larger-scale agronomic trials and operational irradiation protocols before practical commercial deployment can occur.
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Radish is a root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that is grown and eaten all over the world. It is often consumed raw as a crisp salad vegetable with a strong flavor. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the stimulating effect of different γ-rays dose levels (0.0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 Gy) on the quality properties of radish, in addition to its nutritional elements, as well as some of the metabolites found in the red radish roots. The results indicated that the irradiated seeds showed a high germination rate of ≥96% for dose levels of ≤20 Gray (Gy). In addition, the use of gamma rays had a stimulating effect on the vegetative growth, particularly at the doses of 10 and 40 Gy, which provided the largest values of plant height (32.65 cm) and leaf number/plant (8.08), respectively, whereas all the irradiation treatments led to a rise in the length and width of leaves. However, the maximum root characteristics (length, diameter, size, and weight) were confirmed at the dose of 20 Gy (17.51 cm, 5.45 cm, 85.25 cm3 as well as 78.12 g, respectively). It was also noted that the content of plant pigments was significantly higher at a dose of 20 Gy. Additionally, there was an increase in the content of vitamin C using gamma rays, and the highest content (19.62 mg/100 g FW) was at the dose of 20 Gy. The use of γ-radiation caused an increase in some metabolite contents, such as anthocyanin, phenols, and flavonoids, which resulted in an enhancement in the antioxidant activity, achieving the greatest value at the dose of 40 Gy. Exposure of red radish seeds to gamma irradiation before cultivation improved the root contents of the elements (N, K, S, P, Ca, and Mg). The results indicated an increase in the content of organic acids (oxalic, succinic, and glutaric acids) using the radiation dose of 20 Gy, except for malic acid, which had the highest value at a dose of 80 Gy. Similarly, the amino acid pool was significantly increased by irradiation, and the levels of amino acids, which act as originators of the glucosinolate (GLS) phenylalanine, tyrosine and methionine), increased after exposure to gamma radiation, especially at doses of 40 and 80 Gy. Therefore, the red radish roots produced from seeds exposed to gamma rays were of high quality and nutritional value compared to those obtained from un-irradiated seeds. For this reason, gamma-rays are one of the tools that are utilized to improve the growth and quality of crops, especially in low doses.
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DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12081916
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