Viability of Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue seed after ionizing radiation treatments

Journal Article · · Crop Science; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183X003000060023x· OSTI ID:6288512

Bagegni, A M; Sleper, D A; Kerr, H D; Morris, J S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Missouri, Columbia (USA)

Planting tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) seed free of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams allows establishment of swards free of the fungus. Eradication of the fungal endophyte from infected tall fescue seeds containing 130 g kg{sup {minus}1} moisture using ionizing radiation was investigated. Three sources of radiation were used: gamma rays ({sup 60}Co source), neutron particles ({sup 252}Cf source), and a thermal neutron beam. The percent germination of tall fescue seeds among gamma doses did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) from the control treatment and did not show a significant negative response (R{sub 2} = 0.41) to increasing levels of gamma radiation. At 250 Gy of gamma radiation, percent germination after 14 d was still > 90%. Percent seed germination of tall fescue and high levels of radiation were negatively correlated for both sources of neutrons. Gamma radiation was shown to reduce (P < 0.01) the percent of the viable endophyte to {approx} 10% of control. The {sup 252}Cf and thermal neutrons reduced the percent of tall fescue infected by the endophyte to {approx} 30% without deleterious effects on seed germination.

• OSTI ID: 6288512
• Journal Information: Crop Science; (USA), Journal Name: Crop Science; (USA) Vol. 30:6; ISSN 0011-183X; ISSN CRPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

553004 -- Agriculture &amp; Food Technology-- Food Protection &amp; Preservation-- (1987-)
560130* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL FEEDS
BARYONS
BEAMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FERMIONS
FOOD
FUNGI
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SEEDS
THERMAL NEUTRONS