International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach and Studies ISSN NO:: 2348 – 537X Volume 02, No.6, Nov- Dec 2015 Page : 17 Beta Radiation Effects on the Biochemical and Morphological Properties of Phaseolus vulgaris M. Roy Directorate of Distance Education, Vidyasagar University, Midnapur, West Bengal, India ABSTRACT: This paper presents the investigation of the effects of beta radiation on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The seeds are irradiated with Sr-90 source in the range of 0.36 to 2.2 mrad. The LD 50 is found to be 1.0902 mrad. Increase in germination percentage and speed is observed under different radiation doses. The total chlorophyll content is found higher in irradiated plantlets than the non irradiated ones. The highest chlorophyll content is found in the dose of 0.3634 mrad, which also shows higher shoot height. The chlorophyll a is found to be higher than chlorophyll b. However the chlorophyll ratio is found to be lower in all radiated plantlets compared to non radiated ones. So it can be concluded that low dose of beta radiation is found to have stimulating effects on the growth of the plantlets, maximum growth is observed at 0.3634 mrad. However higher doses have a deteriorating effect on plant growth. Key Words: beta radiation, Phaseolus vulgaris, chlorophyll content, plantlets, LD 50 INTRODUCTION The study of the effects of ionizing radiation on plants is a broad, diverse and complex field of work. Several works has been conducted on the effects and influence of these radiations on diverse varieties of plants. Ionizing radiation is reported to influence the plant by inducing changes in certain biological, cytological, genetical, physiological and morphological processes (Gunckel and Sparrow, 1961; Thapa, 2004). Ionizing radiations has been widely applied in modern agricultural methods as a tool for improving genetical diversity and crop improvements. They are used to sterilize crops to reduce pathogen attack, increase viability, while in others stimulate germination. Radiation results changes in both physiological and biochemical processes. It causes changes protein synthesis, hormone, enzyme activities and photosynthesis (Xiucher, 1994; Rabie et.al., 1996; Stoeva and Bineva, 2001). The effects are studied over in large number of plants including both gymnosperms and angiosperms. The studies has shown that the higher radiation doses are usually found to be inhibitory (Kumari and Singh, 1996; Radhadevi and Nayer, 1996; Rabie et.al., 1996; Marcu et.al., 2013) whereas the lower doses are found to be stimulatory sometimes (Chicea and Racuciu, 2007; 2008, Bhattacharya et.al., 2010; 2012; Grover, 2014; Roy, 2015). In this investigation the effect of beta radiation on common bean is studied. A common bean or Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) which is under the family fabaceae is commonly growing vegetable crop in tropical countries and a huge source of dietary proteins. The nutritional value of kidney bean is quite high. The 100g contain 130 kJ energy, 7 g carbohydrates, 1.4 g sugars, 3.4 g dietary fibre, 0.1 g fat, 1.8 g protein, 35 μg vitamin A, 16 mg vitamin C, 37 mg calcium (Choung et.al., 2003). The main purpose of the study is to