X-ray Radiation Effects on Germination and Growth of Echinacea angustifolia

TLDR: In this paper, the effects of x-ray radiation on plant growth were investigated and it was shown that x-rays can aid plant growth to a certain extent, but after a certain dose level the radiation harms the plant and may be lethal.

Abstract: Radiation exposure can affect organisms in many different ways. Out of all of the types of radiation, x-rays are the form that most people are exposed to outside of solar (gamma) radiation. X-ray radiation occupies the 0.01 – 10nm wave length range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Although the effects of x-ray radiation have been observed in humans from medical practices there is little information known about the effects of xray radiation on plants because x-ray technology is a relatively new development for plant studies. Radiation is known to aide in plant growth to a certain extent, but after a certain dose level the radiation harms the plant and may be lethal. 1,2 For example, radiation in doses from 200r to 1,000r (in Alders) and 75r to 300r (in Norway spruce) help plant growth, but above dose level 5,000r (Alders) and 600r (Norway spruce) the radiation harms the plant and is sometimes fatal. 3 Since x-ray technology applied to plant studies is relatively new there is little primary research that can be found on the topic. Most of the studies of radiation that have been conducted focus on gamma radiation not x-ray radiation; the few studies that do analyze x-ray radiation are relatively old, dating back to 1936.