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Maltsev S.V., Biryukova V.A. Gamma irradiation of seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). Sel'skokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya [Agricultural Biology], 2026, Vol. 61, № 3, p. 452-464.
(how to cite this article)

doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2026.3.452eng

UDC: 635.21:631.53.027.34

Acknowledgements:
The work was carried out under a state assignment within the framework of the research plan topic FGGM-2024-0013.

 

GAMMA IRRADIATION OF SEED POTATOES (Solanum tuberosum L.)

S.V. Maltsev ✉, V.A. Biryukova

Russian Potato Research Centre, 23, ul. Lorkha, Kraskovo, Lyubertsy District, Moscow Province, 140051 Russia, e-mail stanmalcev@yandex.ru (✉ corresponding author), vika_biryukova@inbox.ru

ORCID:
Maltsev S.V. orcid.org/0000-0001-7211-315X
Biryukova V.A. orcid.org/0000-0001-7521-6883

Final revision received January 20, 2026
Accepted February 05, 2026

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the main agricultural crops grown in Russia, with an annual industrial production volume of 7-8 million tons and average yield of 20-25 tons/ha. A promising method for increasing potato yields is the treatment of seed tubers using nuclear physics methods. It is known that gamma irradiation of agricultural crops in small doses leads to the effect of radiation hormesis, which manifests itself in growth processes intensification. However, the issue of the optimal seed potato treatment regime that ensures increased yields remains not fully understood. We were the first to establish that pre-planting gamma irradiation of potatoes at a dose of 1 Gy leads to stimulation of tuber germination, acceleration of the phenological phases development, an increase in the biometric indicators of plants, resulting in an increase in both overall and commercial yields. This technique is most effective for cultivars that are characterized by slow growth and development in the initial stages. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamma irradiation of potato seed tubers in terms of growth, development and productivity. The research was carried out at the experimental site Korenevo of the Russian Potato Research Centre (Moscow Province) in 2022-2024. The irradiation of tubers was carried out at the Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology of National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute at the Gamma-radiation irradiation unit GUR-120 (registration number 2795259). Potato (S. tuberosum) was grown on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil with moderate nutrient content. In the experiment, mid-season potato cultivars Grand and Vympel was factor A. Factor B was dose of gamma irradiation Co60 (I — control without treatment, II — 1 Gy, III — 5 Gy, IV — 10 Gy). Factor C was irradiation term (I – mid-September after a two-week healing period at a temperature of 16-18 °C, II — at the end of April a few days before planting). Factor D was precipitation in the second half of the growing season from the second decade of July to the second decade of August inclusive (I — 57.5 mm in 2022; II — 83.4 mm in 2024; III — 135.2 mm in 2023). Potato was planted in the first decade of May with a density of 44 thousand tubers/ha, 75 cm row spacing and harvested in the first decade of September. Biometric parameters (plant height, number of stems per bush, leaf area) were assessed during the flowering phase, while potato yield and tuber marketability were assessed during harvesting. The effect of gamma irradiation on DNA integrity was assessed using gel electrophoresis. Using analysis of variance it was found that even with contrasting meteorological conditions in the second half of the growing season, the influence of the gamma irradiation dose factor was 15.2 %, the irradiation term was 12.0 %, and their combination was 4.7 % (p < 0.05). The physiological effect of gamma irradiation at a dose of 1 Gy in April on the rate of tuber germination (a 3-4-day acceleration) and, thus, on increasing the duration of crop formation was revealed. Both studied cultivars showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in number of stems per plant by 0.3 and leaf surface area by 4043.6-4578.0 m2/ha, while the Grand cultivar also showed an increase in commercial yield by 4.21 t/ha (or 18.1 %). A trend was revealed (p > 0.05) towards an increase in plant height by 1.7-2.0 cm, total yield by 3.29-3.90 t/ha (or 14.3-18.1 %), marketability of tubers by 2.0-3.1 percentage points, and commercial yield of the Vympel cultivar by 3.44 t/ha (or 16.8 %) (p = 0.075). Pre-plant irradiation at a dose of 1 Gy was most effective on the growth, development and yield of the Grand cultivar, compensating its developmental lag in the initial stages compared to Vympel. Higher doses (5 and 10 Gy), especially during September treatment, had a negative effect on the phenological and biometric parameters of plants and the yield of both studied cultivars. The physiological effect of gamma irradiation in the studied doses was not accompanied by potatoes DNA integrity violation when analyzed by gel electrophoresis.

Keywords: potato, cultivar, gamma irradiation, biometric indicators, yield, DNA integrity.

 

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