**6. References**

272 Gamma Radiation

As for the variable germination, was found at 2 Gy a radiostimulatory effect on height and

In addition, there was a trend towards reduction in height and number of needles in both species as they increased the dose of radiation. This effect was more pronounced for the

According to Olvera & West(1985); reducing the growth of seedlings generated from seeds treated with high doses of radiation is mainly due to the destruction of auxin and its precursors. It should be noted that the height variable is used in this type of study as the

Based on our results consider the possibility of using the aforementioned dose to induce mutations that may be of interest in these species. However, all the applied doses produced a negative effect on the number of needles per plant, which are fundamental in the production of Christmas trees. Doses of 2, 5 and 10 Gy gave average values ranging from 3.3 to 6.8 needles per seedlings, well below the average control value, which was 27.7 in *P. hartwegii*. Contravention in the production because mutations are required to encourage a

It has been suggested in this regard that high doses of radiation cause damage that affects physiological character related to growth, especially with the number of needles. High doses of radiation can alter in a direct or indirect the DNA, causing damage of bases, single strand breaks and chromosomal alterations, serious and irreversible destruction of the membrane system of mitochondria and chloroplasts (Ladanova, 1993). However, it will take more repetitions to achieve seedlings with large needles and branches, or select for traditional

In summary, prolonged exposure to radiation by gamma rays produced a severe effect on almost all variables; this effect was greater in the seeds irradiated with 15 and 20 Gy. In the range of medium dose (5 Gy), radiation induced lesions can eventually lead to an important radiobiological response, which at the cellular level can alter the viability and even cause

This response was manifested by affectations in traits related to germination and seedling growth, as the germination percentage and number of needles that were most affected. On the other hand, not all variables were impacted in the same direction, since a dose of 5 Gy showed the presence of a radiopositive effect in the percentage of germination for fir, and at doses of 5 - 10 Gy there was a negative effect at the height of the plant and number of needles, with respect to control. However, when analyzing these results it is recommended to fully explore dose of 5 Gy for *A. religiosa*, and other below 2 Gy for *P. hartwegii*, in accordance with the sensitivity shown by this species to gamma radiation for improve the

With all these examples we can say that low doses of ionizing radiation could improve the crop by increasing production, reducing the time of germination, accelerate growth of seedlings and generate interest new varieties of some plant species, including trees.

number of needles of the seedlings of *P. hartwegii*. In fir, this effect is slightly higher.

number of needles of *P. hartwegii* (Figure 3 b).

more fodder for a demanding market of this product.

breeding seedlings with large needles for future generations.

most sensitive indicator of radiation.

cell death (Ward, 1988).

germination rate.

**5. Conclusions** 


Current Importance and Potential Use of Low Doses of Gamma Radiation in Forest Species 275

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**14** 

*1,4Croatia 2Germany 3Slovenia* 

**Changes in Selected Properties of Wood** 

Miha Humar3, Christian Robert Welzbacher2 and Dušan Ražem<sup>4</sup>

Radovan Despot1, Marin Hasan1, Andreas Otto Rapp2, Christian Brischke2,

Wood as a natural organic material is susceptible to biodeterioration by insects, fungi, and bacteria. There is almost no wooden artefact or old wooden element, which is not infected and not damaged, at least partly, by wood-destroying organisms. As ancient wood and wooden artefacts are invaluable, their appropriate restoration is of particular importance. The first step in restoration is the detection and quantification of wood pests and decay and accordingly, under certain conditions, the disinfestation of ancient wood and old wooden

Besides disinfestation prior to restoration, sterilization of wood is applied for testing the resistance of wood and wooden products against wood-destroying organisms. For both purposes, restoration and resistance testing, gamma radiation is considered as a suitable

Gamma radiation, as a high energy, ionising electromagnetic radiation, easily penetrates through wooden objects. It is known to be very effective in the context of disinfestation of wooden artefacts (Unger *et al.*, 2001; Katušin-Ražem *et al.*, 2009; Fairand and Ražem, 2010) but also for wood sterilisation (Sharman and Smith, 1970; Shuler, 1971; Freitag and Morrell, 1998; Pratt *et al.*, 1999; Severiano *et al.*, 2010). In contrary to alpha and beta rays, which penetrate only very thin layers, gamma radiation fully penetrates wooden objects (Fengel and Wegener, 1989; Tišler and Medved, 1997). The energy-rich gamma rays modify molecular structures and lead to unexpected function of living cells or to their

**1. Introduction** 

artefacts could be needed.

decontamination method.

death.

**2. Gamma radiation as a sterilisation method** 

**Caused by Gamma Radiation** 

*2Leibniz Universität Hannover, Faculty of Architecture* 

*1Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb,* 

*3Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana,* 

*and Landscape Sciences, Hannover,* 

*4Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb,* 

Zhou, H.; Randers-Pehrson, G.; Waldren, C. & Hei, T. (2004). Radiation- induced bystander effect and adaptive response in mammalian cells. *Advance Space Research*, 34:1368- 1372.
