Seed Radiosensitivity: A New Constant?

Abstract
Dormant seeds of different species tolerate varying amounts of ionizing radiation, species having smaller nuclei in the apical meristem generally withstanding greater exposure. Nuclear volume (in µ3) multiplied by radiation exposure (in roentgens) equals a constant, estimated from 12 species to be (10.14 ± 1.17) x 104. From nuclear volumes alone, predictions of radiation response for two unknown species were made; experimental values in both cases fell below the 95 percent but within the 99 percent confidence intervals of the predictions.