Genetic effects observed in tetrads of Tradescantia induced by radon.
Inflorescences of Tradescantia clone 4430 were exposed to different concentrations of radon (Rn) gas (0.85, 12.10, 36.50 and 98.16 kBq/m3) from plants placed in an acrylic chamber that received radon from a container with pitchblende (containing uranium mineral). The exposure time was 24 h, afterwards the plants were left for 6 h in water and constantly aerated. Positive control plants were irradiated with gamma rays (0.8 Gy) and negative control plants received ambient air only (the background measurement had a mean of 0.38 kBq/m3). Micronuclei (MCN) in the tetrads induced by alpha particles emitted from Rn were tabulated and a linear concentration response was obtained. The potency of radon to induce MCN from the slope of the regression line was 0.13 MCN/kBq/m3 of alpha-radiation. Radon could reach the anthers by diffusion through the aerial spaces within the buds.
Villalobos-Pietrini
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R
Laboratorios de Citogenética y Mutagénesis Ambientales, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510 D.F., Mexico.
Flores-Márquez
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AR
Meneses
M A
MA
Tavera
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L
Balcázar
M
M
López
L
L
Gómez-Arroyo
S
S
D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005843:Geography; D008800:Mexico; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011886:Radon; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014501:Uranium
D014501:Uranium; D011886:Radon