DETERMINATION OF LETHAL DOSE AND EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON GROWTH AND TUBER YIELD OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE MUTANT

Mutation induced by radiation may result in increased variation in Jerusalem artichoke. The objective of this study was to determine the LD 50 and effect of gamma rays on growth and tuber yield of two Jerusalem artichoke genotypes HEL 65 and CN 52867. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. The results demonstrated that LD50 for the genotypes HEL 65 and CN 52867 were 22 and 27 Grays (Gy), respectively. The radiation treatments did not change flower characters in either genotype. Germination percentage and plant height in both genotypes were decreased by increasing the radiation dose. In contrast, the number of branches was increased with higher gamma radiation doses (20 and 25 Gy). Gamma ray radiation at 5 Gy increased tuber yield in both Jerusalem artichoke genotypes. The present study indicated that gamma radiation might be useful for improvement of important traits such as yield in Jerusalem artichoke.