The study was carried out to evaluate the affect of proton beam radiation on production of bulbil and tuber including change of endogenous gibberellins, of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. The yield of bulbils and tubers from non- and irradiated D. opposita Thunb at doses of 5, 10, 15 and 20 Gy were determined. Endogenous gibberellins were also quantified by GC/MS analysis. D. opposita tubers irradiated at 15 Gy produced higher bulbil production than non-irradiated plants. Enlarged bulbil (above size diameter 4 mm) was significantly increased at 15 Gy. Bioactive endogenous GA4 was dominant in bulbils and tubers irradiated with proton beam rather than GA1 . Major gibberellins biosynthetic pathways in bulbils and tubers of D. opposita plants were non C-13 hydroxylation route. From the results of this study, 15 Gy proton beam radiation was suggested as an optimal dose that can produce high amounts of bulbil for mass production of D. opposita plant.

Effects of proton beam irradiation on seed germination and growth pattern of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. BY-4; N. plumbaginifolia) and rice (Oryasativa L.) plants were estimated to develop the efficient conditions of irradiation. Seed germination rate was decreased by increasing the proton beam the current and the beam irradiation time in both tobacco and rice seeds. The beam irradiation conditions showing 50% germination were over 60 sec at 10 nA, approximately 5 sec at 100 nA and at 500 nA beam current in tobacco seeds. And the conditions of 50% germination were 60 sec at 10 nA, and 100 nA and 30 sec at 500nA in rice (cv. Dongjin 1) seeds. The growth of irradiated plants was decreased, but significant difference in morphological changes was not observed by the proton beam treatment. The proton beam is able to use as a mutagen, but some of the factors including beam size and beam detector-system must be established for efficient usage of the beam.