title: Genetic diversity in Scots pine populations along a radiation exposure gradient.
abstract: Polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes were studied in the endosperm and embryos of seeds from Scots pine populations inhabiting sites in the Bryansk region of Russia radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. Chronic radiation exposure at dose rates from 0.8 μGy/h led to a significant increase in the rate of enzymatic loci mutations. The main parameters of genetic variability of the affected Scots pine populations had considerably higher values than those from the reference site. Changes in the genetic makeup of Scots pine populations were observed at dose rates greater than 10.4 μGy/h. However, the higher mutation rate had no effect on the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109km, 249032 Obninsk, Russia. Electronic address: stgeraskin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stanislav A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Geras'kin
authors.affiliation: Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109km, 249032 Obninsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Polina Yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Volkova
mesh_terms: D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D014644:Genetic Variation; D041605:Pinus sylvestris / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012426:Russia
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Chernobyl accident; Chronic radiation exposure; Enzymatic loci mutations; Genetic diversity; Scots pine populations