Comparison of Effects of X-Ray and Thermal Neutrons on Dormant Seeds of Barley, Maize, Mustard, and Safflower

Authors

B. H. Beard, United States Department of Agriculture
Francis A. Haskins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
C. O. Gardner, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

1958

Comments

Published in Genetics (1958) 43: 728-736.

Abstract

Comparisons of the biological effects of X-rays and thermal neutrons on dormant seeds of barley have been made by seedling height studies, root tip cytological analyses, and cytological studies of pollen mother cells in the first generation following irradiation and by seedling mutation studies the second generation after irradiation. The results of these studies have been reported by Caldecott, Frolik and Morris (1952) and Caldecott, Beard and Gardner (1954). The objective of the research reported in this paper was to extend the comparison of these two types of radiation by studying their effects on dormant seeds of four widely different crop species: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mays L.), mustard (Brassica juncea Coss) , and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).