Effect of Fast Neutron Irradiation (FNI) on pollen germinability of three Nigerian sesame varieties

Abstract

The effects of Fast Neutron Irradiation (FNI) from an Americium Beryllium source with a flux of 1.5 × 104 n cm-2 s-1 on the pollen germinability of three Nigerian sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties were investigated. Seeds of Kenana-4, Ex-Sudan and E-8 were irradiated with FNI doses for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, representing 4, 8, 12 and 16 µs, respectively. The seeds were grown to maturity with their respective controls (0 µsv of FNI) in order to assess the effects of FNI treatments on the pollen germinability of adult plants. Pollen germinability was assessed in 1% (w/v) agar-based solutions containing 1, 2 and 3% (w/v) sucrose. There were highly significant differences between pollen germination percentages and FNI treatments for all three varieties. Higher pollen germination was observed from FNI-irradiated seeds while 2% sucrose showed the highest percentage germination among all concentrations tested. FNI could be used to improve pollen germination and fruit yield in sesame at 8-16 µsv.