Effects of X irradiation on corn seed

Abstract

Irradiation of corn seed with X-rays affected reducing sugar, protein, soluble nucleotides, and RNA in a manner roughly parallel to growth. Seed X-irradiation decreased the ratio of soluble nucleotides to protein; little or no change in RNA to protein was observed. The oxidative and phosphorylative activities of isolated mitochondria were affected somewhat by X-irradiation, but most of the effect can be explained by a reduction in seedling growth. Activities of aldolase and triosephos-phate dehydrogenase from extracts of normal and X-irradiated tissue showed an indirect effect. Our studies indicate that the contents of nucleotides and RNA, and the activities of enzymes and mitochondria change with growth and development of the seedling plant which can be influenced by X-irradiation.