Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
EASY BIOLOGY CLASS
Free Online Tutorials in Biology/Life Sciences
Search
Gamma Gardens for Mutation Breeding and Crop
Improvement (Advantages and Disadvantages)
MK Nanotechnology Particles Save On Company
Material Costs
Increase The Surface Area Of Your Project Materials Now With Our Nanotechnology.
mknano.com/Products/Powders
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 1/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Satellite Map of a Gamma Garden at Institute of Radiation Breeding, Hitachiohmiya, Japan
Gamma Gardens (Atomic Gardens)
What are Gamma Gardens or Atomic Gardens?
Gamma garden or Atomic garden is a concept popularized after the Word War 2 for the
peaceful use of atomic energy (atoms for peace) for the crop improvement. Gamma gardens or
atomic gardens are a type of induced mutation breeding where radioactive sources particularly
gamma rays from cobalt 60 or Caesium137 are used to induce desirable mutations in crop
plants.
Salient features of Gamma Garden
Ø Gamma gardens are “area subjected to gamma irradiation of crop plants”.
Ø They are giant structures, enclosed by thick high wall to protect the plants and animals
outside.
Ø The purpose of a gamma garden is to irradiate the whole plants during different stages
of development and of varying duration.
Ø The source of radiation used is Cobalt60.
Ø Rarely Caesium137 is also used as the source of radiation.
Ø The strength of 60Co is 200 curies.
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 2/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Ø The area is divided into concentric circles
Lecture Notes
with varying intensity of radiation. Video Lectures PPT Question Bank
a small gamma garden with central radiation
source
Ø Plants to be irradiated are arranged as concentric circles around the radiation source.
Ø The intensity of radiation decrease as one move away from source of the radiation.
Ø The radially arranged plants in gamma garden can be grouped into three sectors.
Sector – I:
o They are plants nearest to the central radiation source.
o Plants in the sector I usually die immediately due to the high dose of radiation.
o They are not used in further experiments.
Sector – II:
o This include plants located next to the sector I.
o These plants develop severe tumors, malformations and other abnormalities.
o These plants are also not used in further experiments.
Sector – III
o They include plants located next to sector III.
o They are the actual plants of interest in Gamma gardens.
o They may have random mutations not severe enough to damage the crop plant.
o The variations obtained in the sector III are used in further breeding
experiments.
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 3/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 4/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Ø The first gamma garden: in Long Island, New York, USA.
Ø First gamma garden in India: Bose Research institute at Calcutta (1959).
Ø Second gamma garden in India: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1960).
Advantages of Gamma Garden
Ø Gamma gardens can produce large amount of variations within a short time.
Ø Desirable mutants can be released directly as a new variety.
Ø Gamma gardens are good examples of the peaceful use of atomic energy for human
welfare.
Disadvantages of Gamma Garden:
Ø High initial investment required.
Ø Other cheapest mutation methods are now available.
Ø Chances of undesirable mutations are very high.
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 5/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Ø Mutations are random; we cannot predict the effects of mutations.
Home About Us Biology Exams CSIR – JRF / NET
Ø Loss of many natural good qualities of crops due to recessive mutations.
Ø Mutated characters may not be stable as they segregate in the next generation.
Lecture Notes Video Lectures PPT Question Bank
You may also like…
@. Mutation Breeding for Crop Improvement
@. Horticulture & Plant Breeding Lecture Notes
@. Genetics Lecture Notes
@. Biology Lecture Notes
@. Biology MCQ
@. Biology PPTs
@. Video Tutorials
Please Share for your Students, Colleagues, Friends and Relatives…
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 6/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Related Posts:
1. Mutation Breeding Technique for the Improvement of Crop Plants (with PPT)
2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Animal Cell Culture (Short Lecture Notes)
3. Plant Physiology and Plant Breeding question paper January 2015 (MGU MSc Botany CSS)
4. Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding July 2002 MGU MSc Botany
5. Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding July 2004 MGU MSc Botany
6. Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding May 2005 MGU MSc Botany
Posted in Botany, Horticulture & Plant Breeding, Lecture Notes and tagged Botany, Crop Improvement,
Horticulture, Lecture notes, Mutation, Plant Breeding.
← CSIR JRF NET Exam June…
Nucleosome Model of Chromosomes in… →
Leave a Reply
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 7/8
5/16/2017 Gamma Garden / Atomic Garden | easybiologyclass
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Home About Us Biology Exams CSIR – JRF / NET
Comment
Name *
Email *
Website
Post Comment
Related Posts
Mutation Breeding Technique for the Improvement of Crop Plants (with PPT)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Animal Cell Culture (Short Lecture Notes)
Plant Physiology and Plant Breeding question paper January 2015 (MGU MSc Botany CSS)
Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding July 2002 MGU MSc Botany
Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding July 2004 MGU MSc Botany
Cell Biology Genetics and Plant Breeding May 2005 MGU MSc Botany
Recent Posts
CSRI JRF NET Life Sciences June 2017 Model Question Paper Set 4
May 14th, 2017
http://www.easybiologyclass.com/gammagardenformutationbreedingandcropimprovementadvantagesanddisadvantages/ 8/8