RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHROMOSOME VOLUME AND RADIATION SENSITIVITY IN PLANT CELLS
New data are reviewed on the comparative radiosensitivity of various plant species. The influence of nuclear volume and chromosome volume on radiosensitivity was investigated. Data are summarized on the effects of /sup 60/ Co gamma radiation or 160- or 250-Kvp x radiation on growth of 50 plant species. An inverse relation was shown between the acute radiation dose necessary to produce lethality or to inhibit growth and the volume estimated to be associated with irterphase chromosomes of short meristem cells in a number of species of higher plants. The average absorbed energy per chromosome was calculated to be about 3.7 x 10/sup 6/ ev for a lethal effect, 2.3 x 10/sup 6/ ev for severe growth inhibition, and 1.07 x 10/sup 6/ ev for slight growth inhibition. Much of the apparent difference in sensitivity of the species studied appeared to be spurious and to result from measuring the dose per unit volume or weight of air or tissue. This was true of polyploids compared to diploids. When energy absorption per chromosome at the growthinhibiting or lethal exposure was calculated for each species, relatively small interspecific variation was found. (C. H.)
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(30-2)-GEN-16
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-017472
- OSTI ID:
- 4051183
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-7866; CONF-456-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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