Effects of X-ray Radiation on Oat Seed

Abstract

In a study involving the treatment of oat seed of six varieties—Simcoe, Park, Bonham, Mo. 0-205, C. I. 6748, and Chintland, with high X-ray dosages, the data indicated that: 1. Recurrent radiation of oat seed in successive generations tended to increase their sensitivity to X-ray treatment when measured by the number of seed killed. 2. Seedlings produced from seed radiated in two or three successive generations were taller and more vigorous than those from seed radiated only once, when the X-ray dosage was 30,000 r and the seed moisture content was approximately 20 percent. With an X-ray dosage of 40,000 r and a seed moisture content of approximately 14 percent the plant heights and seedling vigor from all seed lots were virtually the same. 3. The seed with the high moisture content and lowest X-ray dosage produced the lowest germination percentages and underwent the greatest reduction in plant heights and seedling vigor. 4. Four oat varieties—Mo. 0-205, Bonham, Simcoe, and Park—produced under similar environmental conditions differed in their sensitivity to X-ray damage.