Studies on the use of mutagenic agents in plant breeding. I. The effect of seed moisture content on sensitivity to X-ray in Lupinus angustifolius

Abstract

Seeds of Lupinus angustifolius were subjected to X-ray doses of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 kr at each of 12 moisture contents ranging from 6.1 to 18.1% (fresh weight basis). X₁ plant damage was measured in terms of reduction in height at 110 days from sowing, delay in flowering, and reduction in mean seed yield per plant. The three measures were found to be highly correlated. Survival was not significantly affected within the range of treatments used.

Sensitivity increased progressively with decreasing moisture contents below 11.6%, seeds with 6.1–7.6% being four to five times as sensitive as those with 11.6–16% moisture content. The latter range represented a "plateau" of minimum sensitivity. Between 16.0 and 18.1% moisture, sensitivity again increased.