Genetic consequences of radioactive contamination for populations of Arabidopsis.
Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. growing within a 30 km radius of Chernobyl and characterized by radioactive contamination levels ranging from 0.02 to 240 mR h-1 were analyzed for the frequency of embryonic lethal mutations in 1987 and 1988. Plots that retained high levels of radioactive contamination long after the initial exposure were characterized by a high frequency of mutant plants. Plots with low levels of radioactive contamination, which were significantly reduced soon after exposure, were characterized by a decrease in the initially high proportion of mutant plants. Populations of Arabidopsis exposed to insignificant radioactive contamination showed no increase in the frequency of mutant plants; mutation levels were comparable to those found in control plants.
Abramov
V I
VI
Institute of Biology, Kazelian Science Centre, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
Fedorenko
O M
OM
Shevchenko
V A
VA
D000059:Accidents; D001610:Beta Particles; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D009154:Mutation; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D014455:Ukraine
D011847:Radioactive Fallout