The effect of electron radiation seed treatment on wheat yield and quality

«Radiation and Risk», 2026, vol. 35, No. 1, pp.43-52

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2026-35-1-43-52

Authors

Loy N.N. – Lead. Researcher, C. Sc., Biol. Contacts: 109 km, Kievskoe sh., Obninsk, Kaluga region, Russia, 249032; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Sanzharova N.I. – Scientific Advisor, D. Sc., Biol., Corr. Member of RAS, Prof. NRC “Kurchatov Institute” – RIRAE.
Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Obninsk

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine the effect of low-energy electron irradiation of wheat seeds on crop yields and plant disease incidence. The work was carried out in a microfield experiment on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the Kaluga region with following study of new crop seeds in a labo-ratory model experiment. Spring wheat seeds of the Iren variety were used, naturally affected by root rot (the causative agent of Bipolaris sorokiniana (syn. Helminthosporium sativum)). The irradiation was performed on a Duet electron accelerator at doses of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 kGy at two electron ener-gies – 100 keV (mode 1) and 120 keV (mode 2). The radiation power is 100 Gy/pulse. Unirradiated seeds served as a control. Electronic irradiation of seeds increased grain yield, compared with the control, by 51.3-54.8% under both modes due to an increase in productive bushiness, and also im-proved the product quality according to the main indicators: the protein content increased by 1.28-2.68% under mode 1, and by 1.28-2.68% under mode 2 at all doses except 2 kGy; the fat content increased by 0.12-0.19% at doses of 1, 3 and 5 kGy under mode 1, at a dose of 3 kGy under mode 2 – by 0.11%. Irradiation of seeds contributed to a decrease in the incidence of root rot in wheat plants in the tillering phase at a dose of 5 kGy under mode 1 by 1.5 times, at doses of 1-5 kGy under mode 2 – by 2.4-4.0 times, in the earing phase at doses of 3 and 4 kGy under mode 1 – by 1.5-1.7 times, and at doses of 2-5 kGy under mode 2 – 2-12 times. The prevalence of the disease significantly decreased under mode 2 in the tillering phase by 2.0-2.8 times (doses of 1-5 kGy), and in the earing phase – by 3-6 times (doses of 3-5 kGy), compared with the control.

Key words
low-energy electron radiation, radiation dose, electron energy, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), yield, correlation coefficient, grain quality, root rot (Bipolaris sorokiniana), stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici), disease incidence, disease prevalence, radiobiology.

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