Effects of an acute dose of gamma radiation exposure on stem diameter growth, carbon gain, and biomass partitioning in Helianthus annuus
Nineteen-day-old dwarf sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus, variety NK894) received a variable dose (0-40 Gy) from a cobalt-60 gamma source. A very sensitive stem monitoring device, developed at Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Washington was used to measure real-time changes in stem diameter. Exposure of plants caused a significant reduction in stem growth and root biomass. Doses as low as 5 Gy resulted in a significant increase in leaf density, suggesting that nonreversible morphological growth changes could be induced by very low doses of radiation. Carbohydrate analysis of 40-Gy irradiated plants demonstrated significantly more starch content in leaves and significantly less starch content in stems 18 days after exposure than did control plants. In contrast, the carbohydrate content in roots of 40-Gy irradiated plants were not significantly different from unirradiated plants 18 days after exposure. These results indicate that radiation either decreased phloem transport or reduced the availability of sugar reducing enzymes in irradiated plants. 44 refs., 12 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6316100
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-17834; ON: DE91005252
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (M.S.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACUTE EXPOSURE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
SUNFLOWERS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ACUTE IRRADIATION
BIOMASS
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SOURCES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANT STEMS
RADIATION DOSES
ROOTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COBALT ISOTOPES
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY SOURCES
GROWTH
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
560140* - Radiation Effects on Plants