A total of 45 participants from 13 different countries. Among the participants three were professors from Universities and 40 graduate students most were from Eastern European countries.

1
International Program on Plant Bioassays /under
the auspices of the United Nations Environment
Program (IPPB/UNEP) conducted the Hands-on
Workshop at the Institute for Cancer Research,
Medical University of Vienna, Vienna,
Austria July 2006.

• A total of 45 participants from 13 different
  countries. Among the participants three were
  professors from Universities and 40 graduate
  students most were from Eastern European
  countries.

Prof. Siegfried Knasmueller, Director of the
Institute for Cancer Research, and Prof. Te-H Ma,
from Western Illinois University Macomb, IL, USA
. And Dr. Miroslav Misik of the Institute for
Cancer Research served as instructors of the
workshop
St. Stevens, Cathedral, land mark of Vienna
2
Participants of the Hands-on workshop on plant
bioassays conducted at the Institute for Cancer
Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna,
Austria
3
Front entrance of the Institute for Cancer
Research, MEDUNIWIEN, Austria
Prof. Sigi Knasmueller, Director (Left) and
Research Associates
4
Dr. T. Ma (left) and Dr. Sigi Knasmueller (right)
, Directors of the Workshop giving an
Introduction of the International Program on
Plant Bioassays and instruction of the
laboratory exercise. This workshop was
conducted at the Institute for Cancer Research,
The Medical University of Vienna, Vienna,
Austria, In collaboration with Western Illinois
University under the auspices of the NATO/EST
Program
5
One half of the laboratory exercise instruction
class
6
The other half of the participants in the
laboratory exercise
7
Prof. Te Ma, Instructor, demonstrates
micronuclei in a microscope
8
Tradescantia Clone 4430 (sterile hybrid of T.
hirusiflora and T. subcaulis, Blue colored
flowers and stamen hairs is the result of
dominant blue under the heterozygous (P/p) blue
and pink alleles . About 20 25 individual
plants in clone (not solitary) may be grown in a
6 inch pot with regular potting soil. Young
flower buds are the targets for exposure to gas
and radiation, and to liquid agents via vascular
system of plant cuttings (not whole plant with
roots). To promote flower bud growth, 16 h/day
light is necessary for year round supply of
proper experimental material.
9
XMN
MN
MN
Photomicrograph of micronuclei induced by
X-rays from the Trad-MCN assay
10
Pink mutated cells in the stamen hair from the
Trad-SHM assay
11
Micronuclei (arrow) in Meristem (M) and in F1
(F1) regions of root tips from treated roots
12
During the break of the laboratory exercise,
participants taking pictures in the University
campus.
13
Professor of Nuclear Physics lecturing on
principle of ionizing Radiation and radiation
induced genetic damage -
14
Radiation detection - Dosimetry of radiation
intensity
15
At the end of the week long workshop,
participants receive a certificate given by Dr.
Miroslave Misik, Instructor, while Drs. Ma and
Knasmuelller greet the recipient.
16

• Vienna - Hands-on Workshop on Plant
  Genotoxicity Assays
• European Environmental Mutagen
  Society Meeting
• June 26 Preparation of plant materials
  Tradescantia cuttings, Allium root
• germination. Radioactive source (Sand)
  calibration.
• Audio/Video equipments for evening
  lectures or demonstrations
• Treatment of Tradescantia cuttings. with
  chemical agents, Gaseous, liquid
• and radiation treat for Trad-MCN assay.
  Trad cuttings to be treated a week
• ahead for Trad-SHM assay (S02)
• June 27 Preparation of plant materials,
  Laboratory equipment, Dissecting
• microscopes, oil immersion light
  microscopes, and slides, coverglasses
• dissecting needles stains, reagents
  (Ethanol, Acetic acid, Carmine stains,
• hydrochloric acid, Vegetable oil),Score
  sheets, lens paper, bloting paper.
• Registration, living accommodation and meal
  arrangement.
• June 28 800 830 Opening ceremony
• Power point presentation of three Trad-MCN,
  SHM, Allium MCN bioassays
• 830- 1030 Slide preparation - Trad-MCN,
  Trad-SHM, Allium root tip
• Demonstration , Technical
  exercise, observation of Micronuclei,

Hands-on
Workshop on Plant Genotoxicity Assays Vienna,
Austria. Satellite Program of European
Environmental Mutagen Society MeetingPrague,
Czech Republic
June 26 -30,
206 June 26 Preparation
of plant materials-Tradescantia cuttings, Allium
root germination Radioactive source
calibration. Audio/Video equipments for evening
lectures or demonstrations Treatment of
Tradescantia cuttings. with chemical
agents,Gaseous, liquid and radiation treat for
Trad-MCN assay. Trad cuttings to be treated a
week ahead for Trad-SHM assay (S02) June 27
Preparation of plant materials, Laboratory
equipment, Dissecting needles
stains, reagents (Ethanol, Acetic acid, Carmine
stains, hydrochloric acid, vegetable oil)
,Score sheets, lens paper, blotting paper.
Registration, lodging accommodation and meal
arrangement. June 28 800 830 Opening
ceremony, Power point presentation of 3
(Trad-MCN, SHM, Allium MCN) assays.
830- 1030 Slide preparation -
Trad-MCN,Trad-SHM, Alliumroot tip,
Demonstration, Technical
exercise, observation of Micronuclei,
pink mutations in stamen hairs, Hair counting,
average number
of hairs per flower, scoring of mutation
frequencies. 1030 1045
Coffee break and QA session 1045
1200 Trad-MCN slide preparation.
Trad-SHM assay, 1st day Mutation
scoring 1200 1300 Lunch
1300 1500 Slide prep. meiotic stages
in Trad. inflorescences (inflos)
1500 1530 Coffee break, QA session,
Discussion 1530 1700 Identify
meiotic stages in relation to the flower bud
sizes. 1700 1900 Dinner and
free time 1900 2100 Lectures
(2 speakers)
1) Radioactivity, Radiation source, External
Radiation intensity,
Inverse Square Law-
distance/intensity relationship, Exposure
dosage, measurement.
2) Pollen sterility as the pollution maker
(please give a proper title) June 29 800-
1000 Trad-MCN slide X-ray treated inflos MCN
count. 1000 1030 Coffee break
QA session , Discussion 1030 -
1200 Trad-SHM, Average number of hairs per
flower, 2nd day
mutation scoring. Score sheet. 1200
1300 Lunch 1300 1500
Allium root slide preparation of X-ray treated
roots 1500 1530 Coffee break,
QA session , Discussion 1530
1600 Proper use of light microscope, Scoring of
MCN. 1600 1700 Demonstration
of SCE assay (full title needed)
1700-1900 Dinner and free time
1900 2200 Lectures and demonstration (3)
1) Radioactive decay, Physical half-life,
plotting t1/2 with semi-log paper.
Shielding for protection, Half Value Layer
2) Lecture and demonstration 3) Lecture
and demonstration June 30 800 -1000
Trad-MCN slide preparation for proper tetrad
stage.
Overdose effect, abnormal tetrads,
Dis-synchrony of tetrad stages.
1000 10-30 Coffee break, QA session,
Discussion 1030 1200 Trad-MCN
slide preparation
Trad-SHM assay 3rd day mutation scoring
1200 1300 Lunch
1300 - 1500 Allium slide preparation,
Permanent slide prep. 1500 1530
Coffee break, QA session 1530 -
1800 Permanent slide preparation Statistic
Analysis of data- ANOVA, Dunett t statistic
1800 1900 Banquet for participants
and staff together. 1900 2200
Concluding remarks and Farewell Party