Rapid determination of 226Ra and uranium isotopes in solid samples by fusion with lithium metaborate and alpha spectrometry.

A simple and rapid method has been developed to determine 226Ra in rocks, soils, and sediments. Samples are decomposed by fusion with lithium metaborate and the melt is dissolved in a solution containing sulfates and citric acid. During the dissolution, a fine suspension of mixed barium and radium sulfates is formed.

Rapid detection of aneuploidy in Musa using flow cytometry.

We report a procedure for the rapid and convenient detection of aneuploidy in triploid Musa using DNA flow cytometry. From a population of plants derived from gamma-irradiated shoot tips, plants were selected based on aberrant morphology and their chromosome numbers were counted. Aneuploids plants with chromosome numbers 2n=31 or 32 were found as well as the expected triploid plants (2n=3x=33).