[Genetic effects in populations of plants growing in the zone of Kyshtym and Chernobyl accidents].
Studies to analyze the genetic processes in natural populations of plants were started on the territory of the East-Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT) in 1962 and in the zone of the Chernobyl accident in May 1986. The main directions of the genetic studies in both radioactive areas were similar: 1) study of the mutation process intensity depending on the dose and dose rate and analysis of dose-effect relationships for different genetic changes (point mutations, chromosome aberrations in mitosis and meiosis) in irradiated plant populations; 2) study of the mutation process dynamics in generations of chronically (prolongly) irradiated populations of plants; 3) analysis of microevolutionary processes in irradiated plant populations. The report presents an analysis of observed dose-effect relationships under the action of radiation on populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, Pinus sylvestris and a number of other plant species. Analysis of the mutation processes dynamics in 8 Arabidopsis populations growing in the zone of the Chernobyl catastrophe has demonstrated that the level of the embryo lethal mutations 10 years after the accident in the irradiated populations significantly exceeds the control level. The following phenomena observed in chronically irradiated populations have also been considered: increased radioresistance of irradiated populations (radioadaptation), the appearance of abnormal karyotypes and selective markers upon chronic irradiation. The authors call attention to the high importance of monitoring of genetic processes in irradiated plant populations for understanding of the action of radiation on human populations.
Shevchenko
V A
VA
Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow. shevchenko@vigg.ru
Kal'chenko
V A
VA
Abramov
V I
VI
Rubanovich
A V
AV
Shevchenko
V V
VV
Grinikh
L I
LI
D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011210:Power Plants; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012639:Seeds / Q000528:radiation effects; D012800:Siberia; D014455:Ukraine