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Viability of Acremonium coenophialum in Tall Fescue Seed after Ionizing Radiation Treatments
Author(s) -
Bagegni A. M.,
Sleper D. A.,
Kerr H. D.,
Morris J. S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183x003000060023x
Subject(s) - festuca arundinacea , germination , endophyte , biology , acremonium , sowing , ionizing radiation , agronomy , horticulture , irradiation , botany , poaceae , physics , nuclear physics
Planting tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) seed free of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan‐Jones & Gains allows establishment of swards free of the fungus. Eradication of the fungal endophyte from infected tall fescoe seeds containing 130 g kg −1 moisture using ionizing radiation was investigated. Three sources of radiation were used: gamma rays ( 60 Co source), neutron particles ( 252 Cf source), and a thermal neutron beam. The percent germination of tall fescue seeds among gamma doses did not differ significantly ( P < 0.05) from the control treatment and did not show a significant negative response (R 2 = 0.41) to increasing levels of gamma radiation. At 250 Gy of gamma radiation, percent germination after 14 d was still =90%. Percent seed germination of tall fescue and high levels of radiation were negatively correlated for both sources of neutrons. Gamma radiation was shown to reduce ( P < 0.01) the percent of the viable endophyte to =10% of control. The 2s2 Cf and thermal neutrons reduced the percent of tall fescue infected by the endophyte to =30% without deleterious effects on seed germination.