Variation in Quantitative Characters of Soybeans in the Second Generation after Irradiation of Seeds with X-Rays and Thermal Neutrons

Authors

John Oren Rawlings, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

1-1957

Citation

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nebraska--Lincoln, 1957. Department of Agronomy.

Comments

Copyright 1957, the author. Used by permission.

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of ionizing radiations, thermal neutrons and X-rays, on the genetic variance in the R₂ generation of the economically important quantitative characters plant height, maturity, yield seed weight, and lodging in soybeans and from these data determine the practicability of ionizing radiations as a tool for the soybean breeder.

Adams and Hawkeye varieties of soybeans were irradiated with various dosages of thermal neutrons and X-rays. Progenies of 100 selected R₂ plants for each type of radiation and each variety were grown in 1956 along with 100 control progenies from each variety in a test designed to measure genetic variability among the selected R₂ plants by the performance of the progenies.

Advisor: Donald C. Hanway.