Effect of low gamma irradiation doses on growth, productivity and chemical constituents of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) tubers

Abstract

Abstract Background This field experiment was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the experimental farm of the National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt, to evaluate the effect of low gamma irradiation doses (0, 2.5, 5 and10 Gray) on growth, yield and chemical constituents of Jerusalem artichoke tubers as one of the non-traditional vegetable crops which had a high nutritional and medicinal value. Results The obtained results show that gamma irradiation at dose rate 5 Gy gave the best results of plant height, number of branches, shoot fresh and dry weight compared with treatments exposed to gamma irradiation at dose rate 2.5 and 10 Gy and also higher photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b, a + b and carotenoids than un-irradiated tubers. Same stimulative dose (5 Gy) yielded the highest total yield per feddan, plant yield, tuber fresh weight and dry matter percentage of tubers. Regarding chemical constituents of tubers, it was observed that gamma irradiation at dose 5 Gy scored higher percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total carbohydrates and inulin than other doses. From another point, the highest concentration of total soluble phenols and flavonoids was correlated with 5 and 10 Gy of gamma irradiation. Conclusions The moderate dose of gamma irradiation 5 Gy has a stimulative effect on growth of Jerusalem artichoke which reflects on tubers yield and their chemical constituents.