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Tradescantia Stamen Hairs: A Radiobiological Test System Applicable to Chemical Mutagenesis

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Book cover Chemical Mutagens

Abstract

Several species in the family Commelinaceae, of which Tradescantia is a member, have features particularly well suited for certain radiobiological studies. Effects produced by ionizing radiations which are easily studied include (1) chromosome aberrations in microspores, root tips, ovaries, and stamen hairs; (2) somatic mutations in petals and stamen hairs in clones heterozygous for flower color; (3) pollen abortion; (4) loss of reproductive integrity in stamen hairs; and (5) whole plant or seedling death. The stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone 02 have also proved to be sensitive to radiation-induced mutations at doses in the millirad region.(1)

This research was carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. It was supported in part by the Bureau of Radiological Health, U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant EC-00074, PHS Research Grant CA-12536 from the National Cancer Institute, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Purchase Order A-44246A).

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Author notes

  1. A. G. Underbrink

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Radiological Research Laboratories, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, New York, 11973, USA

    A. G. Underbrink, L. A. Schairer & A. H. Sparrow

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  1. A. G. Underbrink
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

    Alexander Hollaender

  2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

    Alexander Hollaender

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Underbrink, A.G., Schairer, L.A., Sparrow, A.H. (1973). Tradescantia Stamen Hairs: A Radiobiological Test System Applicable to Chemical Mutagenesis. In: Hollaender, A. (eds) Chemical Mutagens. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8972-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8972-3_7

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