Protection Against Radiation Damage in Plants by Colchicine

Abstract

Pre- and post-irradiation treatments of root mesistems of A. cepa, C. juncea and L. esculenta with colchicine provided considerable protection against X-rayinduced chromosomal aberrations. The magnitude of radioprotection remained more or less equal pre- and post-treatments. The reduction in aberrant cells by colchicine implied that colchicine had provided radioresistance and stimulated restitution in pre- and post-treatments respectively.