Apparent stimulation of vegetative growth by acute gamma-irradiation in crop plants

Pot-grown plants were exposed to a wide range of radiation doses from a 5,000 Ci 60Co γ-source at a dose rate of about 1,800 rads/h at various developmental stages. In spring and winter wheat, spring barley, and spring oat radiation doses of 500 or 1,000 rads during the early vegetative stages caused a significant increase in the number of shoots. In potatoes, peas, and broad beans increases in dry weight were observed in plants irradiated in later stages of life cycle with doses of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 rads. As with cereals, increased vegetative growth was associated with severe reductions in reproductive yield. (MG)