Preliminary report on the sensitivity of tea plant to irradiation

The seeds of different varieties of tea have been irradiated. In most cases the rate of emergence of seedings was delayed and the rate of emergence of seedlings was decreased with increasing the radiation doses. The more suitable doses for tea seeds were 5 Krads, and the lethal dose is over 7 Krads. Except for the variety Fudingdabai, the survival rate of cuttings was decreased and its growth rate was reduced with increasing the radiation doses. The applicable dose and the lethal dose for cuttings were 0.5-1 Krads and 2 Krads respectively. Irradiation with low dose (below 4 Krads) give a good effect in the germination of pollen. The semilethal dose for pollen is 12 Krads, and the lethal dose is more than 20 Krads