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IAEA looks at nuclear techniques for crop resilience
The International Atomic Energy Agency has launched a five-year coordinated research project (CRP) to strengthen plant health preparedness using nuclear and related technologies.
Wheat blast, potato late blight, potato bacterial wilt, and cassava witches broom disease can spread quickly across large areas of land, leading to severe yield losses in key crops for food security. Global trade and climate change have increased the likelihood of rapid, transboundary spread.
W. J. Mills, Bernard Mastel
Nuclear Technology | Volume 73 | Number 1 | April 1986 | Pages 102-108
Technical Paper | Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT86-A16206
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fast neutron irradiation to total fluences ranging from 7.7 × 1021 to 5.7 × 1022 n/cm2 (3 to 16 dpa) resulted in a 65% increase in yield strength and a fourfold reduction in ductility. Intergranular fracture was the dominant failure mode for the irradiated material, whereas equal amounts of intergranular and trans-granular cracking were found in the unirradiated condition. This fracture mechanism transition resulted from intense heterogeneous deformation in a matrix strengthened by an irradiation-produced dislocation substructure. Planar slip bands impinged on the grain boundaries causing very high local stresses. Intergranular cracking resulted because the hardened matrix prevented relaxation of the stress concentrations.