Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Salinity stress severely constrains canola (Brassica <italic>napus</italic> L.) germination and early seedling establishment. This study investigated whether low dose gamma irradiation could alleviate salinity induced damage during germination. Canola seeds were pretreated with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 Gy gamma radiation and germinated under 0, 50, 100, or 150 mM NaCl. Salinity significantly reduced germination percentage, seedling vigor, root and shoot growth, and photosynthetic pigment content while increasing oxidative stress markers including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL). However, pretreatment with 25–50 Gy, markedly alleviated these effects. The 50 Gy treatment improved germination, enhanced seedling growth, increased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and stimulated antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase). It also promoted accumulation of osmoprotective compounds (proline, soluble sugars, soluble proteins) while reducing lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Higher doses (75–100 Gy) provided limited protection or intensified stress damage. Multivariate analyses confirmed the superiority of 50 Gy in maintaining physiological and biochemical homeostasis under salinity. These findings demonstrate that low dose gamma irradiation appears to act as an effective seed priming strategy, activating antioxidant defenses and osmotic adjustment mechanisms to enhance salinity tolerance. This is a potentially sustainable approach with considerable potential for improving canola establishment under saline conditions. </p>