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At low intensity, certain stress conditions may have a positive effect on growth and development of plants (eustress). Growth stimulation of barley plants after gamma irradiation of seeds in low doses was observed as an increase in root and shoot lengths. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations in shoots of irradiated plants were significantly higher than in control, while the opposite effect was observed in the roots. To elucidate the molecular basis of growth stimulation after gamma irradiation of barley seeds, we performed the transcriptomic analysis of barley embryos at different stages of seed germination. The transcriptomic data were correlated with morphological parameters and the hydrogen peroxide levels in irradiated and control plants. These data indicate that the growth stimulation by low‐dose irradiation involves the transcriptional control of genes related to phytohormones, antioxidant system, late embryogenesis abundant proteins and cell wall components, with possible involvement of jasmonate and ABA signalling. Gamma irradiation of seeds at dose 100 Gy caused significant growth inhibition and promoted expression changes in transcripts related to cell cycle arrest, DNA damage repair and antioxidant system.

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This paper reports the output of a consensus symposium organized by the International Union of Radioecology in November 2015. The symposium gathered an academically diverse group of 30 scientists to consider the still debated ecological impact of radiation on populations and ecosystems. Stimulated by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters’ accidental contamination of the environment, there is increasing interest in developing environmental radiation protection frameworks. Scientific research conducted in a variety of laboratory and field settings has improved our knowledge of the effects of ionizing radiation on the environment. However, the results from such studies sometimes appear contradictory and there is disagreement about the implications for risk assessment. The Symposium discussions therefore focused on issues that might lead to different interpretations of the results, such as laboratory versus field approaches, organism versus population and ecosystemic inference strategies, dose estimation approaches and their significance under chronic exposure conditions. The participating scientists, from across the spectrum of disciplines and research areas, extending also beyond the traditional radioecology community, successfully developed a constructive spirit directed at understanding discrepancies. From the discussions, the group has derived seven consensus statements related to environmental protection against radiation, which are supplemented with some recommendations. Each of these statements is contextualized and discussed in view of contributing to the orientation and integration of future research, the results of which should yield better consensus on the ecological impact of radiation and consolidate suitable approaches for efficient radiological protection of the environment.