Radiosensitivity and genetic diversity due to gamma irradiation on avocado (<i>Persea americana</i> L.)

Abstract It is well known that mutagens can create genetic variation. Gamma radiation is the most widely used mutagenic agent in plants, because it can cause high genetic variability. Radiosensitivity testing is based on the viability of mutants compared to unirradiated controls. LD50 is considered as the range in which mutations might occur and become the target event of breeding program. The avocado scions were irradiated with gamma rays or cobalt–60. Each 100 scions of the Cipedak avocado variety were irradiated with gamma rays at doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 Gray. No seedling could survive in the highest irradiance (20 Gray), although it seems that there were compatibility and other growth factors that might affected these conditions. The irradiation dose related to the radiosensitivity of scions to gamma rays in this study was actually under the smallest treatment at 3,923 Gray. All doses of gamma irradiation treatment were effective in creating genetically diverse mutants. Genetic diversity appears to occur randomly and was not always determined by irradiation dose.