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

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.

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.

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.

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.