The effect of neutron irradiation on the callus tissue growth of Ruta graveolens and on the rutacridon content

The paper present data on radiosensitivity of two stems R-20 and R-15 of Ruta graveolens (differing in their biosynthetic activity) manifested in the change of growth rate, rutacridon concentration and ''yield'' of rutacridon alcaloid. The results are discussed of tissue irradiated performed at IBR-2 biophysical complex (Regata installation) under various dose powers in the pulse (from 10 Gr/s to 1x104 Gr/s) in the dose range from 0.3 to 400 Gr. It is observed that neutron irradiation stimulates Ruta graveolens cell growth, increase the ''yield'' of rutacridon alcoloid under stimulating doses from 0.3 to 5.0 Gr in the first passage after irradiation. The stem R-15 reveals a higher radiosensitivity than the stem-producent. From the results obtained with Regata installation one may see that the rutacridon concentration increases with increasing doses. Cell growth suppression is observed in the second passage after irradiation both under small and greater doses