Prof. Khaled Ali Ibrahim Bakry :: Publications:

The main objective of this work is to study the effect of pre-sowing gamma irradiation and seeds soaking in ZnSO4 solution on leaf pigments content and nutritional status of Cleopatra mandarin and Sour orange rootstocks plants. In first part, seeds of both rootstocks were irradiated before sowing with gamma rays at 0.0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 Gray. In second one, seeds of both rootstocks were soaked before sowing in ZnSO4 solutions at 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% Zn. Low gamma doses, in particular at 20 Gray or ZnSO4 in particular at 0.2% Zn markedly enhanced leaf pigments formation and greatly encouraged nutrients uptake (N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn) by Cleopatra mandarin and Sour orange plants. However, levels of these nutrients in plant parts were slightly affected by the tested range of gamma rays. Generally, it could be concluded that gamma dose at 20 Gray or Zn at 0.2% showed beneficial effects on both rootstocks, however response of Sour orange to gamma rays and Zn treatments was more pronounced than of Cleopatra mandarin.