Atomic gardening

Atomic gardening (or gamma gardening) is a method of radiation breeding that applies radioactive sources, such as cobalt-60, to the fertilization of agricultural plants, conducted in the hopes of producing genetic mutations (radiation-induced mutagenesis) that may be deemed beneficial.

Reading

• Howarth, Muriel (1960), Atomic Gardening for the Layman, Eastbourne, Sussex: New World Publications 
• Broad, William J. (28 Aug. 2007), "Useful Mutants, Bred With Radiation", New York Times (nytimes.com), https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/science/28crop.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print 

Resources

Government Programs

Japan

• Institute of Radiation Breeding, naro.affrc.go.jp/archive, https://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/archive/nias/eng/org/GR/IRB/  — archived site, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, merged with NARO in 2016
• NCIS, Radiation Breeding Division, naro.affrc.go.jp, https://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/english/laboratory/nics/research/division_of_radiation_breeding/index.html  — Institute of Crop Science, NARO

Other

• https://www.atomicgardening.com/1958/10/20/irradiating-seeds-for-fun-and-profit-c-j-speas-life-magazine-photos/