The effect of gamma radiation on plant morphological characteristics of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Abstract

Induced mutation through gamma irradiation can cause changes in chromosome and genome, which bring to successful variation in the morphology of plant. This study investigates the effect of gamma radiation on mutation frequency and plant morphology of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. The ginger rhizomes of Bentong and Tanjung Sepat cultivars were treated with gamma rays at six different dosages (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 Gray). The gamma ray was emitted from the Caesium-137 source at the rate of 4.31 Gy per minute at Malaysian Nuclear Agency irradiator facility. Different mutation characteristics and wide of mutation spectrum was observed in all treatments. The spectrums of mutant characters observed were stunted growth, plant stature, leaf deformation, and chlorophyll mutation. The results show that mutation effects on morphological characteristics were varied in respective doses and varieties. Therefore, the results proved that different doses of mutagen caused different effects on plant and it was a variety-dependent.