A simple and reliable method to detect gamma irradiated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) seeds by germination efficiency and seedling growth test

Germination efficiency and root,;shoot length of germinated seedling is proposed to identify irradiated lentil seeds, Germination percentage was reduced above 0.2 kGy and lentil seeds were unable to germinate abode 1.0 kGy dose. The critical dose that prevented the root elongation varied from 0.1 to 0.5 kGy. The sensitivity of lentil seeds to gamma irradiation was inversely proportional to moisture content of the seeds. Radiation effects could be detected in seeds even 12 months storage after gamma irradiation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.