Characterization of ion beam irradiated chrysanthemum plants

Shakinah, S.*; Zaiton, A.*; Affrida, A. H.*; Nozawa, Shigeki; Narumi, Issei; Hase, Yoshihiro; Ono, Yutaka

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ion beam radiation on chrysanthemum plants regenerated from ray florets. Ray floret cultures of cv. Reagan Red were irradiated with 320 MeV carbon ion beam from the TIARA AVF cyclotron. Screening was carried out at MARDI Cameron Highland, Malaysia. The irradiated plants were taller as compared to the control, which looked sturdy and bushy. No significant difference was observed on the day taken to form first visible buds and flower bud break between the mutants and control, indicating that the irradiation did not affect the plant maturity and flower uniformity. Interestingly, all the irradiated plants exhibited the same mutation in flower shape (spatulate).