title: Genetic consequences of radioactive contamination by the Chernobyl fallout to agricultural crops.
abstract: The genetic consequences of radioactive contamination by the fallout to agricultural crops after the accident at the Chernobyl NPP in 1986 have been studied. In the first, acute, period of this accident, when the absorbed dose was primarily due to external beta- and gamma-irradiation, the radiation injury of agricultural crops, according to the basic cytogenetic tests, resembled the effect produced by acute gamma-irradiation at comparable doses. The yield of cytogenetic damage in leaf meristem of plants grown in the 10-km zone of the ChNPP in 1987-1989 (the period of chronic, lower level radiation exposure) was shown to be enhanced and dependent on the level of radioactive contamination. The rate of decline with time in cytogenetic damage induced by chronic exposure lagged considerably behind that of the radiation exposure. Analysis of genetic variability in three sequential generations of rye and wheat revealed increased cytogenetic damage in plants exposed to chronic irradiation during the 2nd and 3rd years.
authors.affiliation: Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, 249020, Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. riar@obninsk.org
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Geraskin
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Dikarev
authors.forename: Ye Ya
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zyablitskaya
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Oudalova
authors.forename: Ye V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Spirin
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Alexakhin
mesh_terms: D018554:Avena / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D001610:Beta Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003582:Cytogenetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D001467:Hordeum / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D012434:Secale / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive