THE PRODUCTION OF TUMOROUS ABNORMALITIES IN FERN PROTHALLI BY IONIZING RADIATIONS

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Abstract
Spontaneous tumorous abnormalities occur relatively rarely in aseptic in vitro cultures of the prothalli of Pteridium aquilinum (the bracken fern). By treating either ungerminated spores or young prothalli with either X-rays or gamma radiation, tumors, which appear in every way comparable to the spontaneous ones, can be produced in quantity. With further refinement of the quantification of this technique, it promises to become a valuable tool for investigations into problems of tumorization and some of the factors involved.