Étude des variations de radiosensibilité des semences d'orge (Hordeum vulgare) en fonction de la teneur en eau

Abstract

The study of the sorption curve representing the development of water content versus relative humidity, in barley seeds (cv. Thibaut), shows that water is present in three different states: constitutive water at less than 8.1%, absorption water between 8.1 and 10.9%, and free water at more than 10.9%. Along with these water states, radiosensitivity is respectively high, low, and high. The seeds detached from the rachis have less radioresistance than the attached ones. However this difference in behaviour is reduced when the water content is high (presence of free water). We also observed that growth was stimulated by weak doses of irradiation (20 Gy), whatever the water content. Key words: barley, Hordeum vulgare, radiosensitivity, water content, seeds, rachis.