A Dynamic Model of Heavy Ion ⁷Li Irradiation Mutagenesis Based on Maize Inbred Line Nutrition Difference

To reveal the saddle-type dose effect relationship, we propose a radiation mutagenesis model based on maize nutrition difference resulting from heavy ion ⁷Li radiation. Through irradiation mutagenesis, apparent trait selection, amino acids and fatty acids content determination, and modeling, dynamic evolution from microscopic damage and repair initiation to the final macroscopic biological effects are considered simultaneously. The results show that the steady state nature is independent of evolution time and only relates to different radiation doses. Heavy ion ⁷Li radiation could effectively cause maize phenotypic variation and could improve nutritional quality. This model not only gives a good fit to the experimental results on most types of amino acids and fatty acids, but also offers an adequate explanation of the experimental phenomenon underlying the saddle-type bimodal dose effect. By combining experimental results with theoretical analyses, we suggest that the synergy of the stimulus effect and momentum transfer is the main cause of the saddle-type dose effect bimodal curve. This provides an effective strategy for conducting maize germplasm innovation. (paper)