Abstract
APPROXIMATELY 4,000 tons of edible beans, mainly Phaseolus vulgaris varieties, are imported into Australia annually. Under the quarantine regulations1, the majority of these beans are treated on entry to destroy their viability, thereby preventing the introduction and transmission of various plant diseases. Methyl bromide is commonly used for this purpose. It was decided to investigate the possibility of using γ-radiation as an alternative method of treatment, as it is well known that low doses of γ-radiation inhibit seedling growth2–4. The radiation dose required to destroy viability in several different varieties of imported beans was therefore determined, as well as the effects of radiation on various chemical constituents of one type of bean, the baby lima.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Commonwealth of Australia Quarantine (Plants) Regulations (Govt. Print., Canberra, 1951).
Gustafsson, A., Hereditas, 30, 165 (1944).
Quastler, H., and Baer, M., J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 31, 213 (1948).
Micke, V. A., Wohrmann, K., and Atompraxis, 8, 308 (1960).
Draganic, I. G., Holm, N. W., and Maul, J. E., RISO Rep., No. 22 (Danish Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Riso, 1961).
Proc. Intern. Seed Testing Assoc., 24, 3 (1959).
Official Methods of Analysis, ninth ed. (Assoc. Official Agric. Chem., Washington, D.C., 1960).
Conway, E. J., Microdiffusion Analysis and Volumetric Error, third rev. ed. (Crosby Lockwood and Sons Ltd., London, 1950).
Association of Vitamin Chemists, Methods of Vitamin Assay, second ed. (Interscience, N.Y., 1951).
Benesch, R. E., Lardy, H. A., and Benesch, R., J. Biol. Chem., 216, 663 (1955).
Goldblith, S. A., and Proctor, B. E., Nucleonics, 5, 8, 50 (1949).
Thomas, M. H., and Calloway, D. H., J. Amer. Dietet. Assoc., 39, 105 (1961).
Barron, E. S. G., Annal. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 59, 574 (1955).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WILLS, P. Use of Gamma-radiation for Quarantine Control of Imported Edible Beans. Nature 207, 100–101 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/207100a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/207100a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
