EFFECT OF X-RAY AND ENVIRONMENT ON MAIZE (Zea mays)

EFFECT OF X-RAY AND ENVIRONMENT ON MAIZE (Zea mays)

ABSTRACT

Food scarcity is one of the  major problem that have been facing humans and crop production in larger quantity is a means to reduce scarcity, hence, offsetting hunger from the population. In an attempt to increasing food production and environmental limitations, researches are carried out to determine the effect of x-ray. This study of effect of x- ray ranges and environment in germination and growth of maize was carried out from July to September. Maize seeds were collected from Abakpa market in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and they were exposed to x-ray of different concentration; 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mAs, before planting them in university’s green house and research field. Ten replicate of the seeds were sowed per exposure, two per hole for both field and greenhouse. The field environment favoured growth and development parameter more than green house after comparison. The best concentration for the x-ray were 20 and 30 mAs. The variations were significant  on concentration 30 and 15.This study showed that seed treated with x-ray concentration do well more in field environment than in green house.

INTRODUCTION TO EFFECT OF X-RAY AND ENVIRONMENT ON MAIZE (Zea mays)

Scarcity of food is one of the most severe comprehensive tribulations in most developing countries, and it congregates the intensifying food burden of the highly increasing human population. Population increase  daily without any commensurate increase increase in crop production. even with the use of use of herbicides, insecticides  and fungicides which are used consistently to progress  crop yield. millions of tonnes of pesticides are applied every year to agricultural crops worldwide to enhance productivity.  Also, land scarcity has made farmers to result in using chemicals to enhances productivity of their farm product  to enhance for food security.

Looking ahead, the core question is whether today’s agriculture and food systems are capable of meeting the needs of the global population that is projected to reach more than 9 billion by mid-century and may peak at more than 11 billion by the end of the century. The consensus view is that current systems are likely capable of producing enough food, but to do so in an inclusive and sustainable manner will require major transformations.

Since the emergence of x-rays, the effect of X-ray on both plants and animals have been studied as important biological problems. Zea mays has been used occasionally for special radiation problems. Stadler (1992) found it’s valuable for studies of mutations produced by x-rays because its genes had been more thoroughly mapped than those of many other plants. Bersa (1999) reported Zea mays to be relatively more resistant to irradiation than many plants which he tested. Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in the world; it is widely used for feed and industrial raw material. Maize ranks the third in world production following wheat and rice for the land area and production.

To elucidate the environmental and the effect of X-ray on maize, it is useful to investigate the changes in germination and growth stage of X-ray exposed maize seeds in different environment.

 

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AIM

The study was aimed at determining the effect of x- ray ranges and environments in germination and growth of maize.

OBJECTIVE

1. To determine suitable x-ray ranges for germination and growth of maize.
2. To evaluate the effect of environment in germination and growth of maize.
3. To compare effect of x-ray and environmental effect on germination and growth of maize.

MATERIALS AND METHOD TO EFFECT OF X-RAY AND ENVIRONMENT ON MAIZE (Zea mays)

The Study Area  

The study was conducted in Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. It is located in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It lies within latitude 5⁰ 40′ and 6⁰ 30′ N and longitude 7⁰ 30′ and 8⁰30’E, with its vegetation found in equatorial rain forest. The mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 32⁰ C and 25⁰ C respectively. There are two distinct seasons; the rainy (April to October) and the dry season (November to March) with planting activities starting from late April to early August.

Materials

The materials that were used during the research include;

1. Cutlass – for clearing the field for planting,
2. Tape – for measurement of the area of cultivation and also the measurement of the distances between one hole to another,
3. Hoe – for making of the ridges,
4. Maize –   seeds
5. Polythene bag – for planting in green house
6. Organic manure

Sample Collection

The samples for this study were collected from Maize seed sellers in Abakpa market in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The seeds were x-rayed at Veramax Ultrasound and X-ray Lab, no 19 Leach Street off Water works Road Abakaliki. After which, there were sowed in Ebonyi State University Abakaliki.

 

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Methodology.

To determine the effect of X-ray, the experiments were conducted between the months of July to September. The land were cleared and ridges were made with the use of cutlass and hoe. The length and width of distance of the seeds were measured per holes with the use of tape. Maize Seeds exposed to x-ray with various degrees of concentrations; 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 MAS were sowed two per hole and parameters for both germination and growth were taken respectively. Organic manure mixed with soil in a ratio of 2:3 which were used in the green house. Paint were also used to indicate different ranges of maize exposures.

During the exposure of maize to the x-ray, beam focus distance was 90 cm, maximum quantity of charge 45, pressure 81 kVS, beam aperture 20 x 20 cm and area of the beam aperture was 400 cm. The measurement of various parts of experiment plants were taken at two weeks intervals.

Parameters determined

Parameters measured include the following; number of the leaf, shoot length, leaf length, leaf width, viability and number of days to germinate.

Data Analysis

The degree of significance was determined using ANOVA, which was generated using Statistical package for social science(SPSS) version 20.0. Data was generated inform of mean and standard deviation.

CONCLUSION ON EFFECT OF X-RAY AND ENVIRONMENT ON MAIZE (Zea mays)

This study on the effect of X-ray showed that germination and growth of maize seeds, as observed from both field and green house environment was affected by exposure to X-ray, which would have resulted to mutation. In addition, environment in which the maize were sowed contributed to the variations which were observed in those parameters measured.

For full report on this study, request.