Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review ISSN 2315-6880 Vol. 4(1) pp. 005-013 January 2015
Available online http//www.basicresearchjournals.org
Copyright ©2015 Basic Research Journal
Full Length Research Paper
Gamma radiation and sodium azide influence on
physiological aspects of maize under drought condition
Nahla Hamideldin1*, Noha Eid Eliwa2
1,2
Natural Product Depardement, The National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), P.O. Box 29 Nasr City,
Cairo, Egypt.
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 0022022748246
Accepted 21 October, 2014
Abstract
Grains of pure strain Giza 4 (G4) of Maize (Zea mays L.) were treated with gamma irradiation (60 Gy) or
sodium azide (0.001M) before sowing and evaluated under normal and drought condition, some
physiological parameters were studied. The drought stress increased proline, amino acid and phenols
content also the ratio of Ca, Mg and K increased. The gamma irradiation recovers the drought stress by
increasing the total pigment and amino acid content. Proline and total phenols contents were
decreased. Also, the ratio of Ca, Fe and K decreased as well .Sodium azide less effective in drought
stress recovering it increased the total pigment and amino acid content but decreased proline and total
phenols content. Also, the ratio of Ca, Fe, and Na increased but the ratio of K and Mg decreased. The
Peroxidase, Malate dehydrogenase, Alkohol dehydrogenase isozyme electrophoresis showed
appearance and disappearance of some bands under drought, gamma irradiation or sodium azide
effect. These bands can be used as molecular marker.
Keywords: Drought, gamma radiation, maize plant, physiological analysis, sodium azide.
INTRODUCTION
Maize crop plays an important role in the world economy
and is a valuable ingredient in manufactured items that
affect a large proportion of the world population
(Agricultural Organization of Qom Province, 2006).
Abiotic stress is the primary cause of crops' loss
worldwide reducing the average yield for most of the
major crop plants, including maize by more than 50 % (
Bray et al., 2000). Among the abiotic stresses, the
drought stress is the most important. One way for
improving maize production is to elucidate the
mechanism of drought tolerance which is important to
construct drought resistance genotype (Chugh et al.,
2011).
Gamma rays, an energetic form of electromagnetic
radiations, are known to be the most popular mutagens
for their simple application, good penetration,
reproducibility, high mutation frequency, and less
disposal problems (Chahal and Gosal, 2002). Gamma
rays represent one of the most important physical
activators for growth and yield. The use of low doses of
gamma irradiation in combination with drought stress
displays a good performance more than that of the non
irradiated plants under the same condition (Abdel-Tawab et
al., 2002).
Sodium azide (NaN3) is the least dangerous and the
most efficient mutagen and has been reported to be
mutagenic in several crop species (Mostafa, 2011). The
mutagenicity of sodium azide is arbitrated through the
formation of an organic metabolite which enters the
nucleus, interacts with DNA, and generates point
mutations in the genome. Many researchers have
reported the adverse effects of physical and chemical
mutagens on various biological parameters (Lal et al.,
2009; Dhakshanamoorthy et al., 2010; Sangle et al.,
Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review
Hamideldin and Eliwa. 006
2011).
Gamma radiation induces various physiological and
biochemical alteration in plants. The irradiation of plants
with a high dose of gamma rays disturbs the hormone
balance, leaf gas-exchange, water exchange, and
enzyme activity (Kiong et al., 2008). These effects
include changes in the plant cellular structure and
metabolism such as dilation of thylakoid membranes,
alteration in photosynthesis, modulation of the antioxidant
system, and accumulation of phenolic compounds.
Mutagenic treatments damage of cell constituents at
molecular level or altered enzyme activity (Khan and
Goyal, 2009; Chowdhury and Tah, 2011; Micco et al.,
2011).
Electrical conductivity (E.C.)
Measurements of the electrical conductivity have been used
for the determination of the concentration of soluble salts.
Thus, the total soluble salts in the water samples were
evaluated through the determination of their electrical
conductivity (Richards, 1954). 1gm of fresh tissue was ground
with bidistilled water in a mortar. Samples were then filtered
with suction through Whatman No. 1 paper. The supernatant
was made up to known volume with bidistilled water.
Proline content
The Proline was determined using the method of (Bates et
al., 1973).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Grains of Maize strain Giza 4 (G4) were obtained from the
Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agricultural.
These grains were divided into 3 groups. The first group
of dry grains was irradiated with 60 Gy (cobalt- 60
gamma rays) with the dose rate of 7.5 rad/ sec at the
National Center for Research and Technology, Nasr City,
Cairo, Egypt. The second groups of dry grains were
soaked in sodium- azide (SA) solution at 0.001M in
phosphate buffer at pH3 for two hours at 20 °C. After
soaking, the grains were washed by running tap water
then spread on a Whatman paper under continuous air
flow for well drying. The third group, untreated grains,
was used as control. Treated and untreated (control)
grains were sown in randomized complete block
experiment with three replications. The experiment was
carried out using two levels of irrigation after germination.
In one of which, irrigation was regularly carried out every
10 days. The other was subjected to a drought-stress
where irrigation was carried out every 20 days. The data
were recorded after 50 days from sowing. The results
were statistically analyzed using Multiplier Range test
(Duncan, 1955). Different letters indicate significant variation.
Photosynthetic pigments
Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids were
determined by the spectrophotometric method (Metzner et
al., 1965).
Total soluble solids
Total soluble solids were determined by using an Abbe
Refroctometer, Model 2 WAI according to (AOAC, 1990).
1gm of fresh tissue was ground with bidistilled water in a
mortar. Samples were then filtered through the Whatman
No.1 paper and activated char cool. The supernatant was
made up to known volume with bidistilled water.
Amino acid
Amino acid was done in NCRRT's laboratory. The sample
was prepared by weighing 50 mg powdered grains in a glass
tube containing 5 ml of 6 N HCl. The tube was sealed and
kept in an oven at 110°C for 24 h for complete digestion
(AOAC, 1990). The samples were evaporated and dissolved
in Sodium Citrate then filtered to be ready for analysis
(Baxter, 1996). The System used was the High performance
Amino Acid Analyzer, Biochroma 20.
Phenolic compounds
A weighted sample of cutting was extracted twice, each
for 24 hours, with methyl alcohol at °C as described by
(Diaz and Martin, 1972) .The combined extract was kept
in tightly brown jar in a deep freezer ready for extraction.
The methylation as well as the identification and
determination of the cutting phenolics were determined
as relative amount in a constant weight of tissue of the
experiment. The different phenolic compounds were
identified by comparing their retention times with those
computerized for authentic phenol using high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Minerals
Minerals were measured in the National Center for Radiation
Research and Technology on Energy Dispersive X-RayAnalysis Model: (Oxford) attached to a scanning electron
microscope (JEOL-JSM 5400). Analysis: In this analysis the
characteristic X-ray radiation emitted from each elementwhen the specimen is bombarded with high energetic
electrons-is utilized to determine the kind of the elements that
exists in the specimen surface and their percentage. The
elements estimated were Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium
(K), Magnesium (Mg), and Sodium (Na).
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007. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.
Table 1. photosynthetic pigments (mg/g) of 50-day-old maize plants. Seeds of the control (C) or those
treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and drought
condition (D) Chlorophyll a (Ch.a) Chlorophyll b (Chl.b) Different letters indicate significant variation.
Irrigation
N
D
Treatments
C
60Gy
SA
C
6oGy
SA
Chl.a
D
5.54
B
9.00
F
1.03
E
4.19
A
16.63
C
7.74
chl.b
C
3.61
A
4.78
E
0.69
D
3.03
B
4.15
D
3.10
Carotenoids
CB
1.8
B
2.20
D
0.49
C
1.24
A
4.30
B
1.97
Chl.a/Chl.b
D
1.53
C
1.88
ED
1.48
E
1.38
A
4.00
B
2.49
Total pigments
C
10.99
A
15.99
D
2.20
C
8.98
A
25.08
C
12.80
Table 2. Total soluble solids, electrical conductivity and proline (mg/g) of 50-day-old maize
plants.Seeds of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA)
at normal condition (N) and drought condition (D). Different letters indicate significant variation.
Total Soluble
Electrical conductivity Proline
salt
Irrigation
Treat-ments
Root
Shoot
Root
Shoot
Root
Shoot
A
A
A
A
D
C
C
3
3
0.8
0.7
0.0109
0.0366
A
A
A
A
B
C
(N)
60Gy
3
3
0.8
0.6
0.0641
0.0274
A
A
A
A
B
c
SA
3
3
0.8
0.7
0.0641
0.0183
A
A
A
A
C
A
C
3
3
1.1
1.0
0.0288
0.4121
A
A
A
A
B
B
(D)
60Gy
3
2.8
1.2
0.7
0.0778
0.1282
A
A
A
A
A
CB
SA
3
2.8
0.8
0.6
0.1648
0.0915
Native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE)
Total soluble salt, electrical conductivity and proline
This was conducted to identify isozyme variations among
studied treatments as stated before (Stegemann et al., 1985).
Fresh and young leaf samples were used for isozyme
(peroxidase isozyme malate dehydrogenase and alkohol
dehydrogenase) extraction.
Table (2) showed the content of soluble salt, insignificant
changes were observed at the normal or drought
condition under gamma radiation or sodium azide
treatment in the root and shoot of maize plant.
Concerning electrical conductivity, it is observed that
the drought stress increased the electrical conductivity
insignificantly than normal condition. While the gamma
radiation and sodium azide had no effect on the electrical
conductivity of the maize root under normal condition,
there is an insignificant increase in the electrical
conductivity of the root of gamma irradiated plants under
the drought stressed compared with control plants. In the
shoot of maize under the drought stress, both gamma
radiation and sodium azide decreased the electrical
conductivity with an insignificant amount.
It is clarified from Table (2) in maize plant root that the
drought stress increased significantly the proline content.
The maximum increment was observed with gamma
radiation. At the normal condition, the proline content
showed a significant increase at the treatment with
gamma rays or sodium azide compared to the control. In
the shoot of the maize plant at the normal condition, there
was no significant decrease in the proline content with
gamma rays (60 Gy) and the decrease was continuous
with sodium azide treatment. Under drought stress, the
plant showed a significant increase in the proline content
compared to the normal condition in control untreated
plants and the plants that were treated with gamma rays
(60 Gy).
RESULTS
Photosynthetic pigments
Results represented in Table (1) revealed that gamma
irradiation (60 Gy) caused significant increase in
chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, chlorophyll a/b,
and subsequently the total pigments in maize leaves
under normal and drought condition. The most observed
increase was at the irradiation by 60 Gy under drought
stress. Sodium azide treatments increased chlorophyll a,
carotenoids, chlorophyll a/b and the total pigments under
drought stress only. The seed treatments with gamma
rays or with sodium azide before sowing alleviate the
adverse effect of drought (Table1) by increasing Chl. a,
chl.b, carotenoids, chl.a /chl.b, and total pigment contents
of maize leaves. However, the chlorophyll content and
photosynthetic activity of plants irradiated with gamma
rays (20 Gy) were higher than those of plants under
drought-stressed
conditions.
Under
well-watered
conditions, the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants
irradiated with gamma rays (20Gy) was higher than the
control plants.
Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review
Hamideldin and Eliwa. 008
Table 3. Changes of amino acid content (mg/g) of 50-day-old maize plants. Seeds of
the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at
normal condition (N) and drought condition (D).
Treatments
Amino acid
Amino acid concentration mg/g
Aspartic
Threonine
Serine
Glutamic
Proline
Glycine
Alanine
Cystine
Valine
Methionine
Isoloucine
Leucine
Tyrosine
Phenylalanine
Histidine
Lysine
Arginine
Total Amino Acid mg/g
Normal (N)
C
60Gy
2.2
2.0
2.0
1.4
2.0
1.6
2.2
1.6
0.8
0.4
1.8
1.4
1.8
1.4
06
0.4
2.0
1.4
0.0
0.0
1.6
1.2
8.2
6.4
1.8
1.0
2.6
1.6
1.8
1.2
3.0
1.6
2.2
1.4
36.6
26.0
SA
2.6
2.0
2.0
2.2
1.2
1.8
1.8
0.4
2.0
00
1.8
7.8
1.8
2.6
2.0
2.8
2.2
37.0
Drought(D)
C
60GY
3.4
3.4
2.4
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.8
.2
1.2
1.8
2.0
2.0
2.2
0.0
0.0
2.2
2.4
0.0
0.0
1.6
2.0
8.0
9.8
1.6
2.2
2.4
2.8
1.8
2.2
2.4
3.2
2.0
2.6
37.8
44.0
SA
3.8
3.4
2.6
2.4
1.4
1.8
2.0
00
2.2
00
1.4
7.8
1.6
2.4
1.8
2.8
2.0
38.4
Table 4. Phenol content (mg/g) of 50-day-old maize plants. Seeds of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy
gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and drought condition (D).
Irriga-tion
(N)
(D)
Treat-ments
C
60Gy
SA
C
60Gy
SA
Benzidine
0.45
1.66
0.55
0.99
6.38
1.00
Pyrogallol
36.02
40.10
15.35
41.70
26.62
28.65
Amino acid contents
Catechol
0.13
1.15
6.20
7.20
4.62
1.45
Caffine
0.92
0.75
1.20
2.84
3.62
0.90
Coumerin
0.17
0.10
0.16
0.95
0.26
0.30
Total phenol
37.69
43.76
23.46
53.68
41.50
32.30
condition, while sodium azide decreased the total
phenols contents.
The data presented in Table (3) shows an increase in the
total amino acid (mg/g) with drought treatment. The
maximum increment was observed under the drought
condition in plants treated with gamma rays (60 Gy).
Using sodium azide showed an increase in total amino
acid under the normal and the drought condition. The
magnitude of such response was clearly illustrated with
glutamic, proline, valine, alanine and glycine, while other
amino acids varied with different treatments used.
Total phenol
Table (4) indicated that the drought stress increased the
phenol's content of maize plants. Under drought
condition, both gamma radiation and sodium azide
decreased the total phenols compared to the control
untreated plants. Gamma irradiation (60 Gy) increased
the total phenols of the maize plant under normal
Minerals
Table (5) illustrated that the drought stress induced a
significant increase in the ratio of Ca and Mg in the root
and shoot of the control untreated plants. While a
decrease in the ratio of Fe, K, and Na was realized,
gamma irradiation induced a significant increase in the K
ratio of the root under the normal and drought irrigation.
The same results were found in the shoot. The ratio of
the K and Mg increased under the normal irrigation, but
Mg ratio only increased under the drought irrigation.
Sodium azide treatment induced a significant increase in
the ratio of Ca, Mg, and Na of the root and shoot under
the normal irrigation. On the other hand, it increased the
ratio of Fe and Na in the root and the ratio of Ca, Fe, and
Na in the shoot under the drought condition.
Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review
009. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.
Table 5. Minerals ratio of 50-day-old maize plants. Seeds of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M
sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and drought condition (D). Different letters indicate significant variation.
Irriga-tion
N
D
Treat-ments
C
60Gy
SA
C
60Gy
SA
Root
Ca
D
26.86E
21.89
C
31.0
A
33.71B
31.96C
31.35
Fe
B
3.61C
2.54D
1.99
E
1.77F
1.35A
4.97
C
K
C
50.78A
59.99F
44.25
D
46.50B
55.09E
46.20
N
60Gy SA
Mg
C
9.93E
7.57 A
13.66
B
10.09
F
7.24D
8.81
Na
AB
8.82C
8.00A
9.09
C
7.94D
4.35B
8.67
Shoot
Ca
B
34.88C
32.49A
35.26
E
30.43F
26.60D
32.34
Fe
A
25.38C
19.93B
22.01
D
15.96D
10.41C
20.28
K
D
13.57C
14.27F
12.69
A
18.02B
17.71E
13.21
Mg
F
3.70 C
14.74
E
6.43
B
15.54A
15.95D
10.20
Na
D
22.46F
18.57C
23.61
E
20.05A
29.34B
23.99
D
60Gy SA
C
High Density
Moderate Density
Low Density
Figure 1. Ideogram analysis for Peroxidase isozyme banding patterns of 50day-old maize plants. Seed of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy
gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and
drought condition (D).
Table 6. Densitometry analysis of relative mobility, band density and present or absent of
band for peroxidase isozyme of 50-day-old maize plants. Seed of the control (C) or those
treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and
drought condition (D) High Density (++)Moderate Density (+)Low Density (-) Absent
Band(0) Present Band(1).
Perox-idase
Groups
Px1
Px2
Px3
Px4
Relative
Mobility
0.1
0.3
0.6
0.9
N
C
++
1
1
1
0
D
60Gy
++
1
+
1
1
0
SA
++
1
+
1
1
0
C
++
1
1
1
1
60Gy
++
1
+
1
1
0
SA
++
1
+
1
1
+
1
Isozymes
Malate dehydrogenase
Peroxidase isozyme
The malate dehydrogenase isozyme is shown in Figure
(2) and Table (7). The irradiated plant with gamma
radiation or treated with sodium azide increases the
density of 0.2 band as compared with the control. The
drought stress induced the disappearance the band of
relative mobility 0.6 and 0.9 in the irradiated plant with
gamma rays and control untreated plants respectively.
Also increased the density of band with relative mobility
0.4 in control untreated plants and in sodium azide
treated plants.
The electrophoretic pattern and diagram of peroxidase
isozyme is illustrated in figure (1) and Table (6). It is
observed that the drought stress induced the appearance
of band at relative mobility 0.9 in the control plants with
low density and in the plants treated by sodium azide with
higher density than in the control. In addition, it obvious
that treated plant with gamma radiation or sodium azide
increased density of 0.3 band under normal or drought
stress condition.
Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review
Hamideldin and Eliwa. 010
C
N
60Gy SA
D
60Gy SA
C
High Density
Moderate Density
Low Density
Figure 2. Ideogram analysis for Malate Dehydrogenase isozyme banding patterns
of 50-day-old maize plants. Seed of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy
gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and drought
condition (D).
Table 7. Densitometry analysis of relative mobility, band density and present or
absent of band for Malate Dehydrogenase of 50-day-old maize plants. Seed of the
control (C) or those treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA)
at normal condition (N) and drought condition (D) High Density (++)Moderate
Density (+)Low Density (-) Absent Band(0) Present Band(1).
Malate
Dehydrogenase
Groups
Mdh1
Mdh2
Mdh3
Mdh4
C
Relative
Mobility
C
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.9
1
+
1
1
++
1
N
60Gy SA
N
-
D
60Gy
+
1
+
1
1
++
1
SA
C
+
1
1
1
0
1
+
1
1
++
1
+
60Gy
+
1
+
1
0
++
1
SA
+
1
1
1
++
1
D
60Gy SA
C
High Density
Moderate Density
Low Density
Figure 2. Ideogram analysis for Malate Dehydrogenase isozyme banding patterns
of 50-day-old maize plants. Seed of the control (C) or those treated with 60Gy
gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal condition (N) and drought
condition (D).
Alkohol dehydrogenase
irradiated plants.
The results in Figure (3) and Table (8) indicated that the
application of drought to the maize plant showed
disappearance of band with 0.3 and 0.7 relative mobility
decreased density of 0.9 band in control untreated plants.
The decreased in the density of 0.9 band also found in
DISCUSSION
Drought stress affect the plant production by affect the
plant
physiological
processes.
Photosynthetic
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011. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.
Table 8. Densitometry analysis of relative mobility, band density and present or absent
of band for Alkohol Dehydrogenase of 50-day-old maize plants. Seed of the control
(C) or those treated with 60Gy gamma rays or 0.001M sodium azide (SA) at normal
condition (N) and drought condition (D) High Density (++)Moderate Density (+)Low
Density (-) Absent Band(0) Present Band(1).
Alkohol Dehydrogenase
Groups
Adh1
Adh2
Adh3
Relative
Mobility
0.3
0.7
0.9
pigmentscontent one of the plant compound that affect by
drought stress, gamma irradiation and sodium azide
treatments can elucidate the effect of drought stress on
Photosynthetic pigments prosess. These results are in
agreement with Al-Qurainy (2009) who found that the
total chlorophyll content was profoundly affected at all
studied concentrations of sodium azide and the reduction
was found more as compared to control Eruca sativa (L.)
plants. In addition, Moussa (2011) reported that Water
deficits decreased the chlorophyll content by 12% and
the photosynthetic activity by 42% for leaves of soybean.
Borzoueil et al. (2010) showed that the wheat seedlings
that were exposed to gamma irradiation (100 and 200
Gy) exhibited an increase in chlorophyll a, b and total
chlorophyll levels, when compared to non-irradiated
treatment. Total chlorophyll increased 64.5% in both
genotypes seedlings that were irradiated at 100 Gy. The
amount of chlorophyll produced per gram leaf tissue is
affected by the environmental conditions and genetic
composition of the plant. Sodium azide treated plants led
to increases in total chlorophyll at the lower
concentrations only. Under drought stress, the corn
plant’s ability to absorb and transfer materials is disturbed
which affects the access to food (Lauer, 2003). From the
compound affect by drought stress, gamma irradiation
and sodium azide treatment total soluble salt, electrical
conductivity and proline, Moussa's (2011) observed that
under the drought-stressed conditions, pre-exposure to
gamma rays increased the concentrations of soluble
compounds, and the proline but not the electrical
conductivity of the soybean leaves. Borzoueil et al.
(2010) revealed that the increase in the proline content of
the wheat plant was observed in the irradiated
plants.There was a convincing evidence which showed
that the osmolyte synthesis of the Trigonella plant such
as the proline involved in protective mechanisms was
altered with several environmental stresses, including
gamma irradiation (Al-Rumaih and Al-Rumaih, 2008).
The Proline is a compatible osmolyte, and it may interact
with enzymes to preserve the enzyme structure and
activities. Indeed, the proline has been shown In vitro to
reduce enzyme denaturations caused due to heat, NaCl
stress, gamma stress, etc. (Kavi Kishor et al., 2005;
Ashraf and Foolad, 2007 ).The increase in the proline
content of the rice plant was reported to cope with the
problem of oxidative reagents (Falahati et al., 2007). In
N
C
1
+
1
+
1
D
60Gy
1
+
1
+
1
SA
1
+
1
+
1
C
0
0
1
60Gy
1
+
1
1
SA
1
+
1
+
1
this study, the proline contents of gamma irradiated
seedlings showed a slight increase as the gamma doses
increased. However, (Falahti et al., 2007) contradicted
this statement by proposing that the radiation may have
promoted the level of antioxidants and consequently
there would be no need for extra amount of proline to
cope with the same problem of oxidative reagents.
Amio acids were increased under all treatments
(drought stress, gamma irradiation and sodium azide
treatments, Hamideldin and Hussein (2009) reported that
total amino acid contents of the clover plant increased
under drought, which might especially act as an
osmoregulator inside the plant cell under the water
stress. They also found that the total amino acid
increased with all the doses of gamma radiation under
the normal and drought conditions.
Drought stress increased the phenol's content of maize
plants, gamma irradiation (60 Gy) increased the total
phenols of the maize plant under the normal condition.
This was in agreement with EL- beltagi (2013) who
revealed that the total phenol level of the cowpea plant
was significantly increased in the root and shoot of
cowpea plants grown under all stress levels alone or in
combination with gamma rays as compared with those of
untreated and treated plants. Also, Aly (2010) reported
that γ-irradiation increased the biosynthesis of phenolic
compounds in Cilantro (Eryngium foetidum L.) fresh
plantlets.
Drought stress and gamma iiradiation induced a
significant increase of some mineral and decreased the
others El – beltagi (2013) found that gamma irradiation
reduced Na and Cl uptake of cowpea plants and increased K, N, P, Mg and Ca uptakes compared to control
plant under stress.
The electrophoretic pattern and diagram of Isozymes
peroxidase, malate dehydrogenase and alkohol
dehydrogenase illustrated changes in the bands density
and appearance. The results concluded by Maxim et al.
(2009) reported that, the peroxidase activity not varies in
a marked manner comparatively to control under sodium
azide treatment. This behavior can be a result of the high
ability of Carum carvi L. plant peroxidases in conditions of
heating, lighting or even centrifugation. Also, (Chugh et
al., 2011) confirmed that tolerant genotype of maize plant
showed moderate increase in peroxidase activity due to
drought stress, however, most of the sensitive genotypes
Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review
Hamideldin and Eliwa. 012
showed fall in peroxidase activity. Increase in peroxidase
activity in tolerance genotypes might be an adaptive
response of maize seedlings to higher amounts of
reactive oxygen species generated under water deficit
conditions. Changes in Peroxidase and superoxide
dismutase isozyme compositions were seen in Vigna
radiata (L.) R. Wilczek, as well as in calli of two tobacco
species (Nicotiana tabaccum and Nicotiana debneyi)
after the irradiation (20–200 Gy) established from leaf
discs (Roy et al., 2006). Increase in peroxidase activity at
low doses of γ-irradiation in chickpea. γ-irradiation can
influence the isozymatic composition of peroxidases, as
demonstrated by various authors in other species (Shen
et al., 2010).
Gamma-irradiation can be useful for the alteration of
the physiological characteristics. The biological effect of
γ-rays is based on the interaction with atoms or
molecules in the cell, particularly water, to produce free
radicals (Kovács and Keresztes, 2002). These radicals
can damage or modify important components of plant
cells and have been reported to affect differently the
morphology, anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology of
plants depending on the radiation dose (Ashraf et al.,
2003). These effects include changes in the plant cellular
structure and metabolism e.g., dilation of thylakoid
membranes, alteration in photosynthesis, modulation of
the anti-oxidative system, and accumulation of phenolic
compounds (Wi et al., 2007; Ashraf, 2009). These can
discuss the physiological and molecular changes induced
by gamma irradiation.
Gamma irradiation (60 Gy) and Sodium azide
treatments (0.001M) improved the maize resistance to
the drought stress by inducing some physiological
changes. But, Gamma irradiation (60 Gy) was more
effective than the Sodium azide.
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