[en] Stem cuttings of 20 cultivars of Bougainvillea belonging to different group, bract colour and type were irradiated with 500 and 750 rad and 1.0, 1.25, 1.75 and 2.25 krad of gamma rays. Reduction in sprouting, plant height and survival were recorded after irradiation in most of the cultivars. Stimulation in all these characters were also recorded in some cultivars at lower doses. Different types of morphological abnormalities in leaves were recorded after irradiation in all the cultivars. Somatic mutations in leaves (chlorophyll variegation) and bract colour were recorded in the present experiment. (author)