Effect of Electronic Irradiation on the Radioresistance of Phytopathogenic Microflora in Cucumber

Abstract

The effect of different doses and modes of low-energy electron irradiation of cucumber seeds (cvs. Nezhinskiy and Izyashchniy differing in their earliness and disease resistance) on the viability of their phytopathogenic microflora has been investigated under laboratory conditions. Seeds were treated within a dose range from 1 to 5 kGy with the 1-kGy increment at two accelerating voltages, 100 (mode I) and 130 kV (mode II), and one dosage rate (100 Gy/pulse). Seeds of the cv. Nezhinskiy were put for germination 6 and 30 days after the treatment, while seeds of the cv. Izyashchniy were put for germination 6 and 7 days after the treatment. In the case of a 6-day postradiation period (PP), the level of antracnose affection of seedlings of the cv. Nezhinskiy was reduced at the doses equal to 1, 3, and 4 kGy (mode I) and 3 kGy (mode II) but increased at 5 kGy (mode II). At the PP duration equal to 30 days, the seed treatment at the dose of 1 kGy inhibited the development of Fusarium wilt on cucumber seedlings (cv. Nezhinskiy) irrespectively of the irradiation mode but increased the level of the disease development at a dose of 2–4 kGy in the mode II. In the case of the cv. Izyashchniy and PP duration equal to 6 days, the treatment reduced the level of seedling affection with Fusarium wilt at all doses excepting 5 kGy in the mode II. In general, compared to the mode II, the treatment of seeds in the mode I resulted in more significant reduction of the plant affection level. At a PP value equal to 7 days, the disease affection level, as well as disease prevalence, increased at a dose of 2 kGy in the mode I as well as at 1, 2, and 4 kGy in the mode II.