Response of some French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) varieties to fast neutron irradiation

Response of some French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties to fast neutron irradiation. Seeds of French beans varieties, i.e. Local Bandung (white seed), Local Surakarta and Monel (black seed), and Hawaiian Wonder (brown seed) were irradiated with fast neutrons. Irradiation was carried out in the USIF of the TRIGA MARK II Reactor in the Research Centre for Nuclear Techniques Bandung, with doses of 7,5, 15,0, 22,5, 30,0, 37,5 and 45,0 Gy. Irradiated seeds were planted in plastic pots and grown in the green house. The responses of the seedlings to neutron irradiation were observed by measuring the length of hypocotyl, epicotyl and primary leaf size (length and width). The result of the study showed that epicotyl is the most sensitive to fast neutron irradiation followed by primary leaf size and hypocotyl. The D50 for the four varieties measured were significantly different. It was also shown that the black seed varieties were relatively more radioresistant than the other two. (author). 3 figs, 13 refs