| Effect of X-ray on some wheat characters H. A. MOHAMED Bahtim Experimental Station Cairo, U.A.R. Seed of two vulgare wheats namely Tosson and Giza 144 and one durum wheat namely Baladi Bahtim and Einkorn wheat were exposed to different X-ray treatments. Exposure was done at the Natural Research Centre with the help of D. A. MAHROUS. Total exposure amounted to 12000, 18000 or 24000 r. Exposed seed were dry or soaked for 24 hours in water prior to X-ray treatment. Treated and untreated seed were planted in the greenhouses in steamed soil and replicated 4 times, using fifty or twenty-five seed in each replicate. Period for seedling emergence was delayed one day when the seed was dry at the time of X-ray exposure and delayed 2-3 days when the seed was soaked for 24 hours prior to X-ray treatment. Percentage of seedling emergence decreased when seed was exposed to X-ray as shown in Table 1. Differences in the percentage of seedling emergence were highly significant in the case of the soaked seed when results were analyzed statistically. Length of seedlings was measured and average length was calculated for each replicate and results were analyzed statistically ( Table 2 ). Differences were highly significant in the case of soaked seed, and the least significant differences were 0.85 cm, 0.74 cm at 5% level and 1.22 cm and 1.00 cm, respectively. In the case of the dry seed differences were highly significant only for the X-ray treatments and the least significant differences were 1.21 cm at 5 % and 1.66 cm at 1 % level.. |