The Effects of Thermal-Neutron Radiation on Mutation of Endosperm Loci in Maize

This paper presents results of studies of the effects of thermal-neutron radiation endosperm mutations in maize. Mutations were identified as expressions of the ,essive genotype following irradiation of pollen from the dominant type. The ncipal objectives were (1) to study and compare the rates of mutation of several ietic characters as influenced by different doses of thermal-neutron radiation and to collate these with frequencies of similar mutations induced by X-rays and ,raviolet radiation. Several studies in which the mutagenic effects of thermal neutrons and X-rays are upared have already appeared in the literature. Of these, the most extensive pear to be those of Conger and Giles1 on Tradescantia and of Caldecott et al.2 barley.