Effects of seed irradiation on M1 achenes of Lactuca and Cichorium

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany 1985-01, Vol.25 (1), p.53-65
• Main Authors: Haque, M.Z., Godward, M.B.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; chicory; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; irradiation; lettuce; Mutagenesis; mutation; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; seeds; Vegetals
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/0098-8472(85)90048-6

Dry seeds of Lactuca sativa cultivars and Cichorium intybus were irradiated with 30 kR from a 60Co source, and were grown side by side with controls. Measurements of the achenes borne on the mature M1 plants showed that on the whole the achene size was reduced, the number of ribs on the achene, the width of the ribs and of the furrows between the ribs, the cell numbers composing them, the mean height of the carpopodium, and cell sizes, were reduced. Out of 15 sets of scores at 30 kR, two-thirds were significantly different from the controls on a t-test. These results are in conformity with the hypothesis that downgrade mutations of a variety of genes concerned with growth and development would, in sum, result in such reductions. The radiation-sensitive L. serriola showed greater reductions than the other taxa.