Question

Gamma Garden is used for
A)Growing plantlet produced by tissue culture
B)Eradicating pathogens from infecting plants
C)Growing genetically engineered plants on trial basis
D)Mutation breeding for crop improvement

Answer 1

Gamma Garden is a term for the peaceful use of atomic energy (atoms for peace) for crop enhancement popularised after World War 2. The radiation source is in the middle.

Complete answer:
1.Gamma gardens or atomic gardens are a type of induced mutation breeding where radioactive sources are used to induce desirable mutations in crop plants, especially gamma rays from cobalt-60 to caesium-137.
2.They are regions prone to crop irradiation.
3.To secure the plants and animals outside, they are giant buildings surrounded by a thick elevated wall.
4.During various stages of development and of varying length, their goal is to irradiate all plants.
5.The region is divided into concentric circles of varying radiation intensity.
6.When one travels away from the radiation source, the radiation level decreases.
7.The radially organised plants are divided into three sectors in the gamma gardens.

Sector I:
They are the plants closest to the source of central radiation.
The plants die instantly due to elevated radiation.
In more studies, they are not used.

Sector II:
Such plants contain significant tumours, malfunctions and abnormalities.
They are not used in additional research either.

Sector III:
In gamma gardens, they are the real plants of interest
They may have mutations that are spontaneous and not serious enough to affect crop plants.
They are being used in additional breeding experiments.
They are used in hybridization or specifically published as a variety as a source of variation.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: They are capable of producing large variations in a short time.
Bose Research Institute at Calcutta (1959) is the First gamma garden in India.
High initial investment is required.