The growth and yield of second-generation of shallot mutants caused by gamma-ray irradiation of Allium cepa var. Aggregatum

Genetic diversity can be enhanced through induced mutation, and gamma-ray irradiation is one effective method for inducing plant mutations. This research aimed to identify functional mutants that can serve as a source of seeds for shallot cultivation. The results indicated that gamma-ray irradiation influenced the growth and yield of second-generation shallot plants. The irradiation treatment led to an increase in the number of leaves, with the 100 Gy dose producing the highest average of 21.9 leaves per plant. The appearance of umbels began gradually following the gamma-ray irradiation, with the time for umbel emergence ranging from 33.4 to 61.5 days. Measurements of the umbel diameter showed an average range of 48 to 56.5 mm, and the average number of umbels per plant varied from 1 to 2.5. The control treatment without gamma-ray irradiation yielded lower results, suggesting that higher irradiation doses resulted in a greater number of umbels. Notably, the irradiation treatment with a dose of 125 Gy led to an increase in the number of stomata, with a maximum of 37.7 stomata observed. In contrast, untreated plants reached a maximum height and umbel stalk length of 44.2 cm and 56.8 cm, respectively. The presence of irradiation treatment is believed to induce changes in the genetic composition of the plants, which may contribute to variations in growth patterns.