Determination of different low dose gamma (60Co) rays effects in fresh bean culticars under water deficit condition

In order to determine the effects of different doses of gamma ray applications on Gina and Romano bean cultivars grown under water deficit conditions were applied 3 doses of gamma rays as 25, 50 and 100 Gy to bean seeds. Seedlings which grown in growth chamber conditions at 23 ± 2 oC and 16: 8 light: dark period were subjected to control (100%) and 50% water deficit. Germination rates and germination speed of the seeds were determined for designating the effects of gamma radiation on the viability of seeds. At the end of the study, as well as seedling growth parameters such as shoot length and diameter, number of leaves, shoot and root fresh-dry weights and root-shoot ratio, leaf rational water content, photosynthetic pigment content, determination of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and nutrient contents in shoot were determined. According to resuts of study; it was determined that different gama doses had positive effects on many plant properties under stress-free conditions in Romano and Gina. While gamma irradiation in Gina cultivar increased approximately 49% in shoot length in non-stress condition, 25 and 50 Gy doses raised 13% and 6.5% respectively compared to non-irradiated plants in stress condition. Root length decreased with increased irradiation dose in water deficit especially in Romano but conversely it increased by 88% in Gina cultivar. Lipid peroxidation was found to decrease by 7.7-32.5% in both cultivars. It was found that 100 Gy came forward in morphological features and 50 Gy was more prominent in physiological properties and nutrient intake. Moreover, 50 Gy gamma ray dose was found to be more effective both Gina and Romano cultivars.