Effectiveness of fast neutrons irradiation for the stimulation and induction of genetic changes in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) genome

Air-dry seeds of soybean cv. Warszawska were irradiated with fast neutrons (Nf) using the U-120 cyclotron (at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Cracow) at the doses of 500, 1000, 1500 R. Additionally, each of the irradiation doses was combined with the selected effective chemical mutagen N-nitroso-N-methylurea - in three concentrations: 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mM, to evaluate synergistic effect of these two different mutagenic agents. The results showed some of protection effect of radiation on the level of somatic damage of soybean plants. In addition, the phenomenon of the 'delaying effect' was noted, because the protection effect of fast neutron radiation in the combined treatments with chemomutagen was observed in the emergence and plant survival in the M2 generation as well. From the point of view of genetic changes induced in the soybean genome, the most effective dose of fast neutron irradiation was 500 R. The number of soybean mutants with earlier ripening obtained (in comparison with original 'mother' variety) at this irradiation dose was higher, than with the highest effective concentration of chemical mutagen (1.0 -1.5 mM MNUA). (author)