• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.215-219
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• 2003

To investigate the effects of low dose gamma radiation and seed moisture content (SMC) on germination and early growth of vegetable crops, seeds of chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), red pepper (Capcicum annuum L.), figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl), with different SMC were irradiated with different doses ($0{\sim}20\;Gy$) of gamma-ray by irradiator ($^{60}Co$, ca.150 TBq of capacity, AECL). Vegetable crops in which low dose gamma radiation was irradiated in seeds with different moisture content showed different response in seed germination and early growth to low dose gamma radiation. The germination rate of chinese cabbage, figleaf ground and bottle gourd irradiated with $2{\sim}8\;Gy$ showed interactive responses against relative SMC. Also, significant interactions occurred for the early growth between those factors. The stimulating effects of gamma radiation were more pronounced for hydrated seeds of chinese cabbage, radish, figleaf gourd and bottle gourd showing prominent responses with $2{\sim}10\;Gy$ irradiation, particularly for chinese cabbage and bottle gourd. These results suggest that radiation may promote germination and early growth of vegetable crops through interaction with SMC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2003

Seeds treated before sowing should be dried for their quality control on their sale or storage. The experiments were done to clarify the effect of drying, temperature and light quality treated during drying and germination on germination of gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) seeds. Drying of treated seeds was done at $35^{\circ}C$. After treated seeds were dried. their germination test was done at 10, 20 and $30^{\circ}C$ on the condition of darkness, but with blue, red, far-red light and darkness as light quality treatments. FR-yongjadaemok and FR-kunghap were used as test cultivars and their daily germination rates were measured at treatment levels. Its presowing hydrated seeds were dried 10 hours at $35^{\circ}C$ until reached below their original moisture content, and germination rate between the above dried seeds and the conventional dry-heated ones was not significantly different. At $30^{\circ}C$ germination temperature, the treated seeds showed higher initial germination rate when dried under red light illumination than under darkness although their germination rates were nearly same at each temperature of 10 and $20^{\circ}C$ being relatively low. Effect of the red light treatment during their drying continued to more than 3 months. Germination rate of the red light treated seeds during drying was reduced by far-red light treated during their germination. The initial rate to the second day after sowing were higher under red light and darkness treated during germination than under the two other lights.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2003

Seed germinability might be highly related to seedling establishment. The experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of presowing treatments of aging, priming, $GA_3$ , prechilling and water imbibition, different temperatures and light quality during germination on germination of gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) seeds. Aging treatment with different temperatures and periods was done by the accelerated aging method. Priming using KNO$_3$ and $GA_3$ treatment for 24 hours were done at 100 mM and at 0.01 mM before a week prechilling. The germination tests using a week prechilled seeds were done at 10, 20 and $30^{\circ}C$ on the condition of darkness, and also with blue, red, far-red light and darkness as light quality treatments. FR-yongjadaemok and FR-kunghap were used as test cultivars and their daily germination rates were measured at treatment levels. Germination rates were reduced in the seeds aged at $45^{\circ}C$ for 6 days. Prechilling showed the highest and fastest rate among the four presowing treatments but the two other presowing treatments had similar or less rates than water imbibition. Prechilling done before sowing enhanced the low vigor seeds, and accelerated the germination of cv. FR-kunghap at 20 to $30^{\circ}C$ and with blue, red light or darkness during germination although far-red light inhibited their germination.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2002

Gourd seeds were irradiated with the doses of 0-20 Gy to investigate the effect of the low dose $\gamma$-radiation on the early growth and physiological activity. The stimulating effects of the low dose y- radiation on the early growth were not noticeably high, but were increased generally at 4-16 Gy irradiation group. The catalase and peroxidase activity of cotyledon from seeds irradiated with $\gamma$- radiation were increased at 8 Gy irradiation group. The photochemical activity of leaf was noticeably high at 4 Gy irradiation group. The photochemical yield of PSII, estimated as Fv/Fm, decreased with increasing illumination time by 50% after 4 hrs in the control and 8 Gy irradiation group, while Fo slightly increased. However, Fv/Em in the 4 Gy irradiation group decreased by 40% of inhibition, indicating that photoinhibition decreased by the low dose $\gamma$- radiation. Changes in the effective quantum yield of PSII, $\varphi_{PSII}$ and 1/Fo- l/Fm, a measure of the rate constant of excitation trapping by the PSII reaction center, showed similar pattern to Fv/Em. NPQ decreased by 70% after photoinhibitory treatment with showing similar pattern between the control and the irradiation group. These results showed the positive effect of low dose $\gamma$- radiation on the seedling growth and the reduction of photoinhibition in the 4 Gy irradiation group.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2002

To establish the seed treatment method of the gamma radiation for germination enhancement of bottle gourd(Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) and pumpkin(Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche), seeds were irradiated with the dose of 1$\sim$20 Gy of the gamma radiation. The germination rate in irradiated group was higher than that of the control, depending on seed condition. In the case of bottle gourd, the germination rate of 70$\sim$80% germinative seed was increased at 4$\sim$20 Gy irradiated groups. Especially, it was the highest at 4 Gy irradiated group. The germination rate of 80$\sim$90% germinative seed was the highest at 4 Gy irradiated group. The germination rate of 70$\sim$80% and 80$\sim$90% germinative seed at 4 days after sowing was increased 66% and 26% at 4 Gy irradiated group, respectively. In the case of pumpkin, the germination rate of 70$\sim$80% and 80$\sim$90% germinative seed was increased at 2 Gy and 8 Gy irradiated group, respectively. Effect of the low-dose gamma radiation on the early growth was enhanced depending on their germination enhancement. Especially, it was the highest at 2 Gy irradiated group of 70$\sim$80% germinative seed of pumpkin. Catalase activity of bottle gourd was increased at 4 Gy irradiated group. Catalase and peroxidase activity of pumpkin were increased at 2 Gy and 8 Gy irradiated group. These results suggest that the germination, early growth and physiological activity of bottle gourd and pumpkin seeds could be promoted by the low dose gamma radiation.