Irradiated Explants Research Articles

The Effects of Fast Neutrons on the Growth of Carrot Root Phloem Explants

Carrot root phloem tissue explants were irradiated with 14 MeV neutrons, the dose delivered determined from the induced radioactivity of the glass sample tube. The irradiated explants were grown aseptically on a culture medium which allowed rapid growth. A 50% reduction in fresh weight in 14 days was produced by a fast neutron dose of 840 rads. This was due to a reduced growth rate maintained during the growth period.