Effect of different doses of gamma irradiation on some morphological characters of Ocimum basilicum L.

Gamma irradiation is important agent used to improve the productivity and quality of many plants. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of different doses of gamma rays (0, 25, 50, 100, 125, 150 and 200Gy) on vegetative growth of Ocimum basilicum L. the germination seeds was completed within 10 days, after about 45 days of growth the morphological parameters of the plants were taken in three time periods, and the difference between each period was 14 days. Results showed that 125Gy dose of gamma irradiation significantly increased for all character per plant, but Increasing gamma rays doses of high dose 150 due to significantly reduced germination percentage, vegetative growth characters, but the 200Gy treatment it led to no germination of seeds at all (killer dose). The parameters used were morphological studies (plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaves area, number of brunches). The study suggested 125Gy dose as seeds treatment for increasing basil plants production through enhancing germination percentage, vegetative growth and another the components.