Sensitivity of the conidia of plant pathogenic fungi to Gamma-rays, electron particles and X-ray (Bremsstrahlung) irradiation.

Twelve species of plant pathogenic fungi were exposed to high-energy irradiation and their sensitivities compared by the irradiation (termed D 10) required to decrease the viability of conidia by 10%. The D 10 of conidia in 0.06 MXXX phosphate buffer and irradiated with gamma-rays at 32 to 35°C ranged from 0.16 to 0.71 kGy. When conidia were mixed with trehalose and vacuum dried, their sensitivity towards gamma-rays doubled. There was no identifiable trend in the response of dry conidia towards irradiation by gamma-rays, electron particles or X-rays.