AECD-3446 -90- Engebi island is induced by radiation, one would immediately look for a link pe radiation damage and indole-3~-acetic acid production in the injured tissues, This is an intriguing possibility. The problem could be attacked rather directly and should be of immediate interest to many people. In this regard, it should be as- certained if any weed-eradicating chemicals have been employed on the island, or if any equipment used for such substances has been employed there. Any chem eo substance possessing an unsaturated bond in a ring supporting a carboxyl Sroup og a side chain possessing 2 to 4 carbons could logically be suspected to produce stad. CH,- CocH lar effects, i.e.JJ The radioactivity in the tumorous tissue is low. This species is deep rooted 7 and normally absorbs from a depth below that penetrated by neutrons, hencelittle Ca45 would be expected in the root feeding zone of this species. Fission productg on the other hand, may be expected on the surface of such plants, having been splashed uponit by the action of raindrops on the soil surface. Time did not persmég a more thorough investigation of this problem. : A second species showing deformations was encountered on Aitsu, one of the islands within the fallout zone of Aomon., spirallytwisted !eaves. Figure 12 shows a coconut palm with. A number of other coconut palms in the same vicinity showed similar but less severe symptoms. This spiraling of leaves is perhaps caused by a disturbance in the pattern of cell division in the meristematic zone. It is not as severe a disturbance as that leading to complete disruption in the or zation of cell cleavage patterns, as is the case for tumors, but the disturbance 183; in the same direction. : GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ee eo age The-overall impressiongained from-the examination of-the-three."test" islands is that growth of certain plants has been largely impossible because of the: destruction of their natural habitats, In addition, the crater formed by the bomb presents additional problems. The mechanical removal by the blast of the surfact layer of soil has taken away the accumulation of what might be termed the “top soil" of that immediate area. This may be a contributing factor to the calcium deficiency observed in the vicinity of the crater. From the center of the blast outward there exists a marked zoning of + UNIVERSITY LDCIeT UNIV. Gi ica fot, ase at .: 1.<ra 3 @