Gamma Irradiation Effect of 60Co on the Germination of two subtropical species in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley

Sunflower seeds exhibit significantly higher radiosensitivity to gamma irradiation from cobalt-60 compared to roselle, with no observed LD50 (lethal dose 50%) within the tested range of up to 35 Gy. The study employed a randomized complete block design to assess germination rates across increasing radiation doses (0–35 Gy) for both species in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. While sunflower's sensitivity was markedly greater, neither species reached 0% germination, suggesting that LD50 values likely exceed 1000 Gy. The radiosensitivity curves were modeled linearly with high accuracy, indicating a proportional relationship between radiation dose and germination inhibition. These findings highlight the differential resilience of subtropical plant species to ionizing radiation, with implications for ecological studies in irradiated environments.

López, E. D., Ruíz, A. M., Hernández, A. O., Herrera, P. H., Cortes, J. A. J., Rocha, J. F. L. d. l., Francisco, N. F., Santiago, H. S., Delgado, C. H. B., Pastelín, J. M. C., Delgado, H. R. B., Oreján, E. T. D., & Corte, J. M. L. (2017). Gamma Irradiation Effect of 60Co on the Germination of two subtropical species in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science, 4(8), 56–61. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.4.8.10