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CHRONIC GAMMA IRRADIATION FOR CROPS IMPROVEMENT AND AGROBIOTECHNOLOGY
AZHAR MOHAMAD Nuclear Malaysia
The Gamma Green House (GGH) is a chronic irradiation facility located at MINT Tech Park, Nuclear Malaysia, Jalan Dengkil. GGH is used for induction of mutation in plants and other biological samples with low dose radiation over period of time depending on the nature and sensitivity of the plant species. Gamma Greenhouse facility at Malaysian Nuclear Agency comprises an open topped irradiation area consisting of circular green house with 30 meters radius, control room and irradiator with interlock system. The irradiation source is a REVISS RSL6050 double encapsulated 800 Ci 137Cs (half-life 30.1 years for 137Cs) pencils and allowed to be exposed only when the entire 300 m diameter site is free from personnel. The irradiator system is secured by a sophisticated interlock system, which only allows the source to be exposed when all the prerequisite safety conditions are met, and automatically returns the source to the safe storage position if any safety device is compromised.
The biological samples can be exposed to low dose radiation in days, weeks, months and years. The energy associated with gamma radiation is high enough to break the molecular bonds and ionize atoms without affecting structure of the atomic nucleus (avoiding induction of radioactivity). The alteration by chronic irradiation is tremendous, resulting in physical appearance, changes in molecular structures and metabolism changes. These changes are random events, inheritable, and the stability depends on cell damages after irradiation at molecular levels. Chronic gamma irradiation produces a wider mutation spectrum and useful for minimizing radiation damages towards obtaining new improved traits for commercial values. Continuous exposure at low dose of gamma irradiation results in considerably elevated somaclonal variation frequency without negative effects on natural response. Mutation induction by chronic radiation is a successful technique for variety development in creating high somaclonal variations, which affect essential structural genes for useful expression without altering other important traits. The chronic techniques have made an outstanding impact on the productivity and economic value ranging from food crops and microbes to industrial products for better quality of life. To control, minimize and reduce back scattering, lead blocks and/or concrete blocks are used accordingly.
This irradiation facility is exclusively used for chronic irradiation of tropical and subtropical plants and tissue culture materials. Nuclear Malaysia provides irradiation service to interested users such as plant breeders and scientists from Nuclear Malaysia, research institutes, local universities as well as regional institutions. The irradiation service will be charged at nominal rate. |
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A bird’s eye view of the Gamma Green house (GGH) Facility at Nuclear Malaysia, Bangi |
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Group photo of participants in front of the Gamma Green House (GGH) Facility during a visit organised by PGM on 14th July 2011 |
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Photo of participants in the Gamma Green House (GGH) Facility during a visit organised by PGM on 14th July 2011 (Centre: the irradiation source) |
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Process Flow at GGH |
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Gamma GreenHouse (GGH) Bangi/Dengkil, Selangor |
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