Atomic Energy Laboratory, I.A.R.I., New Delhi-12
Hulled andunhulled seeds of indica and japonica rice varieties were irradiated with 20 and 30 kr of gamma rays. The influence of husk on radiosensitivity was measured using different biological parameters like rate of germination and survival, shoot growth inhibition, pollen and spikelet sterility etc. The results suggest that there is a considerable increase in radiosensitivity of varieties with the hulled treatments. The differential radiosensitivity of indica and japonica sub-species appears to be due to differences in the physical and chemical nature of husk in addition to genetic factors.
