Modification of radiation-induced damage in barley (Hordem vulgare L.) by post-treatment with caffeine

摘要

Barley seeds, treated with 3 doses of gamma rays (200Gy, 400Gy, 600Gy) and calibrated to two moisture contents (23% and 33%) during storage were employed to study the effect of caffeine (concentration = 3.8 X 10~(-3) M) post-irradiation pre-storage treatment on radiation induced damage and recovery. It was observed that with increase in radiation dose, there was an almost linear increase in radiation damage. Caffeine pre-storage treatment (20 hours) of the irradiated seeds was found to potentiate the seedling injury at both the levels of seed moisture contents during storage.