Seed radiosensitivity of a hexaploid triticale

Seeds of the winter hexaploid triticale 6TA-131 containing approximately equal to 13% water were irradiated with either (230 to 1520 rads). Survival at three weeks and height at four weeks of field-grown plants were reduced significantly only at the highest doses of radiation. However, plants from seeds irradiated with 1520 rads of fission neutrons died later in the season. Mean percent seed set following enforced self-fertilization, an endpoint of significance to a mutation induction program, was reduced to approximately equal to 45% of control by either 46.50 krads of gamma radiation or 685 rads of fission neutrons. Weight per 1000 seeds was only slightly affected by radiation dose. (author)