Effects of Seed Priming with Gamma Radiation on Growth, Photosynthetic Functionality, and Essential Oil and Phytochemical Contents of Savory Plants

Gamma radiation has been suggested to have post-effects on emerging plants when applied to the seeds. In the present study, we aimed to induce alterations in photosynthetic functionality and subsequent modifications in secondary metabolites of summer savory following seed priming with gamma radiation. Savory seeds were treated with 0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 Gy gamma radiation in a completely randomized design with ten replications for morphological and photosynthetic parameters and three for phytochemical assessments. The results showed that gamma radiation on seeds adversely affected photosynthetic performance, especially at the highest doses. It negatively influenced the growth, while increasing the shoot branching, the number of nodes, and the diameter of the stem. Gamma radiation on seeds generally reduced pigmentation in savory leaves, such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. However, soluble sugar, starch, total phenolics, and total flavonoid contents were elevated in the leaves of plants that emerged from gamma-primed seeds. Gamma radiation priming reduced essential oil’s percentage and yield. Carvacrol and limonene components of essential oil were diminished, whereas linalool and thymol were increased. In conclusion, due to its inherent stress-inducing effects, and despite some positive effects on phytochemicals, seed priming with gamma radiation adversely influenced growth, photosynthesis, and quantity and quality of savory essential oils. Further research is still needed to target the use of gamma radiations before harvesting the seeds or determine the cytogenetic characteristics of irradiated plants.