Some irradiated saccharides emit light when dissolved in water. Glucose, xylose and mannose were selected as the most suitable materials for lyoluminescence dosimetry. Using **6**0Co as a radiation gamma -source, the performance of these materials has been evaluated from the point of view of sensitivity, stability against thermal annealing or exposure to light and their linear behavior with doses up to 100 krads. Their lower limit, depending upon the apparatus used is about 100 rads. With trehalose 2H//2O and luminol solution, doses between 1 and 10**6 were measured. It appears that trapped free radicals are responsible for the light emission.