Effects of fast neutron irradiation on seed germination and seedling growth of Leymus chinensis, Bromus inermis and Elymus sibiricus

he effects of fast neutron irradiation on seed germination and seedling growth of Leymus chinensis, Bromus inermis and Elymus sibiricus were studied in this paper.The results showed that fast neutron irradiation had different effects on the three grasses in terms of seed germination and seedling growth. Fast neutron irradiation reduced the germination ability and restrained seedling growth of L.chinensis, and the higher dose irradiation of fast neutron, the lower germination rate, germination index and vigor index, also the less root length and shoot height. The germination rate of L.chinensis irradiated by fast neutron with dose of 3.541012cm-2 was 26.3%, which was only 40.65% of the control. Although lower dose of the fast neutron irradiation increased seed germination ability and promoted seedling growth of B.inermis, the higher dose was opposite. The higher dose of fast neutron irradiation within the range used in this experiment increased seed vigor and promoted seedling growth of E.sibiricus. The preliminary conclusion was that the lower dose irradiation (3.601011cm-2) was feasible for L.chinensis and B.inermis, contrarily the higher dose was feasible for E.sibiricus.