Diferente sensibilidad de dos cultivares de cacao a las radiaciones gamma

Abstract

Two lines of cacao, Matina and UF 613, were found to differ in their response to acute gamma irradiation of seeds, Matina being more sensitive than UF 613. This was based on survival and hipocotyl height of the surviving population. Cytological examination of root-tip cells revealed that sensitivity was related to nuclear damage. Trials were made to test if the reduction of oxygen concentration, which lowers metabolic activity, would also reduce the difference in radiosensitivity between these two cacao lines. The curves obtained by plotting hypocotyl height against dose show that the reduction of oxygen concentration exerts a protective action on both lines. Nevertheless, the difference in sensitivity between Matina and UF 613 still exists.