Genetic variation in natural Melandrium album populations exposed to chronic ionizing radiation

Abstract

The effect of radiation pollution on genetic variation in natural populations of Melandrium album was investigated at the head part of the East-Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT) and background areas. The highest genetic differentiation estimated using F was revealed between compared pairs of the background and impact samples in populations of M. album. The highest rate of polymorphism was observed at the closest to nuclear accident, Impact-1 site. The unique alleles (Mdh-3, Pgi-2, Lap , Mdh-2, and Dia ) were discovered at the EURT. Individuals from chronically low-level irradiated sites were genetically closer than to plants from background sites using Nadhdh locus. The increase of the frequency of unique homozygous and heterozygous genotypes was identified in populations of M. album growing under chronic radiation exposure conditions. The largest contribution to the group of unique heterozygous genotypes at the EURT was made by three loci - Lap, Pgi-2, and Nadhdh; the main role in interpopulation differentiation of samples was made by the alleles Sod-2, Skdh , and Nadhdh. Our results provide evidence for the correlation between the increase of genetic variation other than the «genetic erosion» and chronic radiation exposure factor in natural plant populations.

Comparison of radiosensitivity response to acute and chronic gamma irradiation in colored wheat

“…Thus, through increased HR occurrence, chronic irradiation can produce a variety of genetic resources in plants. Several studies have been reported that effect of chronic gamma irradiation such as development of wild carrot plants, genetic variation in natural Melandrium album populations, and enzymatic hydrolysis as a pretreatment in Brachypodium ( Kim et al , 2015 ; Boratynski et al , 2016 ; Karimullina et al , 2016 ). However, there is little information on the effect of chronic irradiation on the development and oxidative defense system of plants.…”