THE EMBRYONIC TRANSPLANT AS RESEARCH MEDIUM IN THE EMBRY/-ENDO SPERM IN IRRADIATED SEEDS

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Atti Associazone Genetica Italiana (Italy)

OSTI ID:4737519

Meletti, P; D'Amato, F

Seeds of Bonus barley and Albimonte wheat, irradiated with high doses of x rays, thermal neutrons, and gamma rays, were used in embryo transplantation experiments in both directions: (1) irradiated embryo on unirradiated endosperm, EM(i)/EN(n), and (2) unirradiated embryo on irradiated endosperm, EM(n)/EN(i). Intact seeds as well as homotransplants (unirradiated embryo on unirradiated endosperm) served as cortrols. In a first series of experiments with barley,(x- ray doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 Kr), the most common transplartation technique was used, which leaves some residual endosperm attached to the embryo to be transplarted (technique A). No clear effect of the irradiated endosperm on the unirradiated embryo was observed, neither on seedling growth nor on plant survival in the field. On the contrary, in a total of 2400 irradiated embryos (600 for each x-ray dose) grafted on unirradiated endosperm, 33 mature plants were obtained (no survival from the control ing museeds irradiated with the same x-ray doses). A genetic test in the following generation did not reveal any seedling mutation neither in the EM(i)/EN(n), nor in the EM(n)/EN(i) plants. In another series of experiments on barley with a more refined technique, which allowed the transplantation of completely endosperm-iree embryos (technique B), it was found that: a) x-irradiated endosperm tends to reduce both shoot and root growth of EM(n)/EN(i) seedlings; b) with thermal-neutron-irradiated endosperm, growth depression is observed only in the root system of the embryo grafted on it. Using technique B in Albimonte wheat, it was also shown that heavily gamma- irradiated endosperm depresses growth in both the root and shoot systems of the embryo transplanted on it (doses of 250, 500, and 1000 Kr were used). A Strong reduction in field survival has also occurred for unirradiated embryos transplanted on endosperms irradiated with 1000 Kr of gamma rays. From the experience gained so far, the authors conclude that the embryo transplantation technique, if refined conveniently, may prove useful in studying embryos- endosperm relations in irradiated seeds. (auth)

• Research Organization: Universita, Cagliari, Italy; and Universita, Pisa, ITaly
• NSA Number: NSA-17-010386
• OSTI ID: 4737519
• Journal Information: Atti Associazone Genetica Italiana (Italy), Journal Name: Atti Associazone Genetica Italiana (Italy) Vol. Vol: 6; ISSN AAGNA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Italian

Related Subjects

BARLEY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CEREALS
EMBRYOS
PLANTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SEEDS
THERMAL NEUTRONS
TRANSPLANTS
WHEAT
X RADIATION