Effect of Gamma irradiation in chlorophyll Metabolism in Dolichos, vigna and Phaseolus species

Abstract

Different plants, with special reference to their chlorophyll metabolism, have been studied by different workers such as Arnon (1949), Aruga and Monsi (1963), Anderson and Boardman (1964), Wood and Bachelor (1969), Gopal Rao (1973) Katyayani et al. (1978). Dolichos, Vigna and Phaseolus, the members of family Papilionaceae, are mainly grown for their beans which are used as vegetables and pulses. It is well known to the biologists that some bacteria, in symbiotic association with leguminous plants, fix atmospheric nitrogen which leads to the formation of amino acids and proteins. These products are translocated to the seeds during the period of their formation. Due to this, the seeds of the leguminous plants contain higher amount of protein in comparison to the seeds of other plants. The mechanism involved in the nitrogen fixation indicates that its efficiency is regulated by the supply of the host photosynthate. Therefore, induction of higher amount of chlorophyll may affect the photosynthetic activity of the plant, which in turn, may affect the yield of the plant concerned. Keeping this fact in mind, the present piece of work has been carried out to see the effect of acute gamma radiation on the chlorophyll metabolism of the plants concerned, and their yield at corresponding doses.