Specific developmental stages of gametogenesis for radiosensitivity and mutagenesis in rice

Summary Developmental stages during gametogenesis of rice were histologically examined in the period from differentiation of reproductive organs to anthesis. Plants were exposed to acute X-rays of 20 Gy. Radiosensitivity and mutation frequency were investigated in relation to the developmental stages of reproductive organs. The most radiosensitive stage, as measured by reduction of the M1 pollen-and seed-fertilities, was the last premeiotic interphase. Mutations induced at different developmental stages were scored in M3 strains. Sterility mutants and short-culm mutants were most frequently observed. Grain shape, panicle morphology, heading-date and endosperm character mutants were induced at a relatively low frequency. The overall mutation frequency varied with the developmental stage at the time of irradiation. The highest overall mutation frequency was observed when radiation was applied 10 days before anthesis, the late tetrad stage of microspores. Radiation exposure of florets at the late tetrad stage was found to be a more efficient method of inducing a large number of mutations than radiations applied to seeds and fertilized egg cells.