Stimulate Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Productivity Based on Seed Irradiation and Foliar Application of Zinc.

COMMON bean is an important vegetable crop grown in Egypt for local consumption and can be exported abroad. Its dry seeds are valuable sources of protein. To increase its productivity, common bean seeds were irradiated when it was exposed to ionizing radiation (gamma irradiation) for a predetermined amount of time that depends on the radioactivity of the radioactive source (⁶⁰Co). Worldwide, billions of people suffer from zinc (Zn) insufficiency. Zinc is an essential mineral for plants and mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar Zn sprays and seeds gamma irradiation on the growth, yield, productivity and grain nutritional quality of common bean. The experimental design was a split-plot in two factors with three replicates. The main plots were seeds gamma irradiation (0, 10, 20, and 80 Gy) and the sub-plots were zinc spraying as ZnSO₄ (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg L^-1 ). Field experiments were carried out in two successive growing seasons under field conditions using drip irrigation system. One commercial common bean cultivar was used (Bronco). Some of growth parameters yield and quality parameters were estimated to follow the effect of zinc fertilization and gamma irradiation on the common bean plant. The results indicated that increasing Zn concentration in the spray solution cased a positive in common bean. Also Exposing seeds to moderate doses of gamma rays leads to positive effects on plant growth, yield and quality. In this regard, it was concluded that there was a positive interaction between spraying with zinc and gamma irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]