Modifying the effects of fast neutrons in rice seeds by post-treatment with chemical mutagens

Dormant rice seeds were exposed to 290-1160 rad of neutrons, dehulled and then soaked in buffered aqueous solutions of either 0.03M EMS or 0.005M MMS for 15h at 30 deg. C. The neutron plus EMS treatment did not affect seedling height and seedset as much as did the neutron plus MMS treatment, which caused marked reductions over those due to neutrons alone. The mutation frequency (Msp) in all neutron doses was slightly to markedly increased by EMS, and reduced by MMS. Neutrons + EMS was found to be an efficient mutagenic combination whereas neutrons + MMS was inefficient (Msp/I). Differences in the synergistic effects of these combined treatments may be due to the specific biological action of the chemicals as determined by their physical properties. An idea that the chemicals may have acted essentially as selective factors for survival of neutron-damage or mutated tiller initials is briefly discussed. (author). 26 refs, 3 tabs