Abstract:

Through the combination of tissue culture and radiation mutation，radiation breeding of Boston fern（Nephrolepis exaltata‘Bostoniensis Murano’）was investigated by using green globular bodies（GGB）as materials radiated by various dose of 60Co-γ rays. The results showed that the LD50 of GGB was about 128 Gy. With increasing dose of 60Co-γ rays，the multiplication and differentiation of Boston fern GGB were depressed. Morphology damage of Boston fern GGB radiated by 60Co-γ rays included darken color，increased density and the depression of multiplication and differentiation，and cellular damage included reduction of embryonic cell and initiation of cellular micronucleus. At 50–200 Gy，with increasing dose of 60Co-γ rays，the height of Boston fern plants differentiated from GGB became dwarf，and leaf mutation rate increased. Moreover，leaf mutant Neg1 was obtained at 150 Gy.

Key words: Nephrolepis exaltata, boston fern, green globular bodies, 60Co-&gamma, ray, radiation breeding