STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF FAST NEUTRON IRRADIATION AND SODIUM AZIDE ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to study the effects of Fast Neutron Irradiation (FNI) and Sodium Azide (SA) on three varieties of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) viz; Kenana -4, Ex-Sudan and E-8. Three hundred seeds of each variety were exposed to (FNI) from Americium-Beryllium source with flux 1.5x104 n.cm-2s-1 given the does 0,4,8,12 and 16µSv. Three hundred seeds of each variety were also treated with sodium azide at five different concentrations, 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, 0.08%. The irradiated, the chemically treated seeds and the control seeds were grown to maturity. The morphological and yield parameters, survival, flowering and oil content were taken. The result showed that 12µSv had significantly higher values (p<0.05) with respect to plant height, number of leaves, length of petiole and number of seeds. The survival percentage in Ex-Sudan and E-8 were higher at 0µSv (60 and 60%) respectively, while in Kenana-4 at 16 µSv with 53%. The 16µSv and 8 µSv have a consistent highest percentage oil content in all the three varieties. In terms of flowering percentage in Kenana-4, 8µSv and 12µSv have higher values (75 and 75%) than control. However in Ex-Sudan and E-8, 4µSv (78.1 and 46.8%) did better than the control. In the case of sodium azide the result showed that 0.02% had significantly higher values (p<0.05) with respect to plant height, number of leaves, length of petiole, leave surface area and weight of capsule. The survival percentage in Ex-Sudan, Kenana-4 and E-8 were higher at 0.02, 0.08 and 0.04% (80, 93 and 94%) respectively. Kenana-4 and E-8 were higher (37.7 and 28.6%) at 0.08% and Ex-Sudan (30%) at 0.00% with respect to oil content. Ex-Sudan and E-8 have higher values (75 and 53.1%) at 0.02% while Kenana-4 (78%) at 0.04% with respect flowering percentage. Thus Fast neutron and Sodium azide have potential of creating genetic variability in sesame, certain concentrations of sodium azide 0.02% through 0.04% sodium azide concentration and 12usv have the potentiality of inducing variability that could be used in the improvement of sesame.