The effect of ionizing irradiation on the tissue culture ofCoronilla varia

Abstract

Long-term callus cultures of crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) grown on the Murashige and Skoog's medium with 2,4-D (1 mg 1-1) and cultures of somatic embryos cultivated on the same basic medium but with IAA (1.0 mg l -l) were exposed to ionizing irradiation. The irradiation caused a growth inhibition excepting the lowest dose of 2.5 Gy. The highest dose of 160 Gy induced browning of the culture but this colour change was not lethal. The amount of "giant cells" present in both cultures was dependent on the dose of irradiation.