Introduction
Gamma radiation is a form of ionizing radiation. It can have effect both mammalian cells and plant cells differently. A mammalian cells exposed to 3,000 rads of gamma radiation will nearly all die (Kumagai et al., 2000). Exposing plants to radiation can have different effects, depending on the dosage, species of plants, radiosensitivity, and physiological condition (Gunckel, 1957). The effects may range from growth inhibition, changes in morphology, cellular proliferation, and even death to the plant (Gunckel, 1957). Plants exposed to high doses of radiation are known to inhibit germination and halt growth (Kumagai et al., 2000). It is believed that seeds exposed to radiation generate free radicals that inhibit the growth of the …show more content…
(N=36/dose)
Radiation Dose Sample Size Mean Height (mm) Standard Deviation Standard Error of the Mean
0 36 103.74 34.51 5.75
50,000 36 34.35 15.93 2.65
150,000 36 47.87 14.59 2.43
500,000 36 19.98 6.84 1.14
4,000,000 36 No growth N/A N/A
Figure 2: The mean height of Raphanus sativus by group of each gamma radiation dose. (N=36/dose)
As shown in Table 1 and Figure 1, the germination rates, excluding the 4,000,000 rads dose, had germination rates above 47%. Keeping the 4,000,000 rads dose excluded, the variation in germination rates was found to be insignificant (χ2= 6.98, df=3, 0.10.>p>0.05). In contrast to lower radiation doses, the 4,000,000 rads dose had no germination, showing a decrease in germination rate. When all five groups were included, the variation in germination rates was significant (χ2=35.25, df=4, pp>0.10). When the 4,000,000 rads dose is included, the survival rate decreases from being above 61% to 0%, and this difference is significant (χ2=22.71, df=4, p<0.0001). The differences between the 50,000 rads and 150,000 rads as well as the 50,000 rads and 500,000 rads were found to be not …show more content…
sativus. This is supported by the chi square that did not include the 4,000,000 rads dose in the calculations. The radiation did not have an effect on the survival, otherwise there would have been a significant difference between the survival rates of the different doses of radiation. In contrast, when including the 4,000,000 rads dose, the chi square indicated a significant difference between the radiation doses, rejecting the null hypothesis. Below the 500,000 rads, radiation did not have an effect on the survival of R. sativus. However, above the 500,000 rads dose, the survival is hindered and can be contributed to the exposure to gamma radiation. A similar phenomena was seen in an experiment by Soriano (1961). Soriano experimented on Tjeremas rice, a species more sensitive to radiation than R. sativus. The survival rates of the rice declined as the dose of radiation increased, until it surpassed its threshold and the survival rate dropped to zero (Soriano,
Gamma radiation is a form of ionizing radiation. It can have effect both mammalian cells and plant cells differently. A mammalian cells exposed to 3,000 rads of gamma radiation will nearly all die (Kumagai et al., 2000). Exposing plants to radiation can have different effects, depending on the dosage, species of plants, radiosensitivity, and physiological condition (Gunckel, 1957). The effects may range from growth inhibition, changes in morphology, cellular proliferation, and even death to the plant (Gunckel, 1957). Plants exposed to high doses of radiation are known to inhibit germination and halt growth (Kumagai et al., 2000). It is believed that seeds exposed to radiation generate free radicals that inhibit the growth of the …show more content…
(N=36/dose)
Radiation Dose Sample Size Mean Height (mm) Standard Deviation Standard Error of the Mean
0 36 103.74 34.51 5.75
50,000 36 34.35 15.93 2.65
150,000 36 47.87 14.59 2.43
500,000 36 19.98 6.84 1.14
4,000,000 36 No growth N/A N/A
Figure 2: The mean height of Raphanus sativus by group of each gamma radiation dose. (N=36/dose)
As shown in Table 1 and Figure 1, the germination rates, excluding the 4,000,000 rads dose, had germination rates above 47%. Keeping the 4,000,000 rads dose excluded, the variation in germination rates was found to be insignificant (χ2= 6.98, df=3, 0.10.>p>0.05). In contrast to lower radiation doses, the 4,000,000 rads dose had no germination, showing a decrease in germination rate. When all five groups were included, the variation in germination rates was significant (χ2=35.25, df=4, pp>0.10). When the 4,000,000 rads dose is included, the survival rate decreases from being above 61% to 0%, and this difference is significant (χ2=22.71, df=4, p<0.0001). The differences between the 50,000 rads and 150,000 rads as well as the 50,000 rads and 500,000 rads were found to be not …show more content…
sativus. This is supported by the chi square that did not include the 4,000,000 rads dose in the calculations. The radiation did not have an effect on the survival, otherwise there would have been a significant difference between the survival rates of the different doses of radiation. In contrast, when including the 4,000,000 rads dose, the chi square indicated a significant difference between the radiation doses, rejecting the null hypothesis. Below the 500,000 rads, radiation did not have an effect on the survival of R. sativus. However, above the 500,000 rads dose, the survival is hindered and can be contributed to the exposure to gamma radiation. A similar phenomena was seen in an experiment by Soriano (1961). Soriano experimented on Tjeremas rice, a species more sensitive to radiation than R. sativus. The survival rates of the rice declined as the dose of radiation increased, until it surpassed its threshold and the survival rate dropped to zero (Soriano,