Effect of UV-C radiation on basic indices of growth process of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds in pre-sowing treatment

Abstract

An investigation of the effects of UV-C radiation from source having the power of 20 W on improvement of seed quality of Ukrainian winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) six cultivars: ‘Gratsіia Myronivska’, ‘Trudivnytsia Myronivska’, ‘Vezha Myronivska’, ‘Mudrist Odeska’, ‘Nyva Odeska’ and ‘Lira Odeska’, has been done. In the performed experiment the UV-C irradiation in the range of 50-1000 J m-2 was applied. Based on the experimental results it is concluded that irradiation of UV-C on wheat seeds stimulated the seed vigour and germination. It has been established the optimal irradiation dose of UV-C radiation - 250 J m-2 for ‘Trudіvnitsia Myronіvska’, ‘Mudrіst Odeska’, ‘Nyva Odeska’, ‘Lіra Odeska’ cultivars and 500 J m-2 for ‘Hratsіia Myronіvska’ and ‘Vezha Myronіvska’ cultivars, which leads to maximum effect. The highest biometric indices of seedling structural elements were obtained from the seeds of all wheat cultivars, for which the values of seed vigour and germination were also maximum ones, i.e. at the same irradiation dose.