ELECTRON-SPIN-RESONANCE (ESR) STUDIES ON IRRADIATED COCOA BEANS AND NIGER SEEDS

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of irradiated (10kGy) and unirra diated cocoa beans and niger seeds have been compared. Unirradiated co coa beans failed to give any ESR signal, whereas after irradiation (10 kGy) an ESR signal at g = 2.0042 was observed. However, ESR signals a re given by both irradiated and unirradiated niger seeds. The intensit y of signal was found to be dose-dependent up to 10 kGy for both seeds . The signals were stable up to 180 days in both cases. The results in dicate the possibility of using ESR for distinguishing between irradia ted and unirradiated cocoa beans but not for niger seeds. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ltd.