Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
A Research
was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture Department of Crop Science
Teaching and Research Farm, and Botany Laboratory of Adamawa State University,
Mubi, during the 2024 cropping season to determine the effect of X-ray
bombardment and sodium azide on the germination, growth and yield of maize (SAMMAZ 51) an open pollinated variety.
The treatments consisted of the following; T1=SA10.01% T2 = SA20.02%
T3= SA30.03% T4= X-ray 5sec, T5= X-ray 10 sec, T6=X-ray 15 sec and
T7= control. The Experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) in three replicates. Data were collected on days to first germination,
germination percentage, number of leaves, plants height, days to 50% tasseling
and silking, number of cobs per plot, number of rows per cob, cob length (cm),
seed yield per plot(g), 1000 seed weight (g)
and seed yield (kg ha-1). The data collected was subjected to
Analysis of Variance using Statistical Package for Scientist and Engineers
(SPSE), significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test
(DMRT) at P≤0.05. The results showed that bombarding maize seeds with X-ray for 10 seconds prior
to planting performed better in most
of growth and yield characters observed
in this study the characters were, days
to first germination with 3 days, germination percentage 72.91 %, number of
leaves and plant height at 2 and 4 weeks after sowing as 5.53 and 10.07, 18.13cm and 31.27 cm respectively number of cobs per plot 5,
number of rows per cob 12.73, seed yield
per plot 325.08 (g), 1000 seed weight 217.08 (g), and seed yield (kg ha-1)
543.78.This study therefore revealed that bombarding maize seed (SAMMAZ 51)
with X-ray for 10 seconds prior to planting can enhances germination, growth
and yield of maize. Hence X-ray can serve as an important mutagenic agent for
creating variability in maize.
Country : Nigeria
IRJIET, Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2025 pp. 33-40