Influence of combined alpha, beta and gamma radionuclide contamination on the frequency of waxy-reversions in barley pollen

Long term effects of Chernobyl contamination on DNA repair function and plant resistance to different biotic and abiotic stress factors

“…In addition to mutation rates in somatic cells after irradiation it is very important also to follow mutation rates in generative cells, as these are responsible for the transfer of genetic information to future generations. Such cells are haploid and do not possess the advantages of a second copy of the genetic material and, thus, they are very radiosensitive [3]. The genotoxic effects of Chernobyl contamination have been studied in the waxy strain of barley.…”

“…Increased levels of radionuclide pollution during ontogenesis resulted in a higher incidence of meiotic disturbances and abnormalities during formation of male gametophytes [95]. This barley strain was also used to score waxy reversion in mature pollen grains grown at different levels/composition of Chernobyl contamination [3].…”

“…In addition to wide-scale dispersion of contamination, scientists were faced with some special pollution problems, such as the presence of numerous "hot spots", different solubilities of radionuclides, interaction with chemical compounds etc. [3,4].…”

Effects of Low Dose Chronic Radiation and Heavy Metals on Plants and Their Fungal and Virus Infections

“…Clearly, therefore, corn mutation is highly susceptible to ionizing radiation. So far, opaque-mutation of corn as well as waxy-mutation of barley (Boubryak, Vilensky, Naumenko, & Grodzinsky, 1992) could be useful tools in understanding low dose effects. Thus, results obtained both in the greenhouse and in field trials demonstrate the decrease in plant disease resistance under low dose chronic radiation.…”

Indications of limited altered gene expression in Pinus sylvestris trees from the Chernobyl region

“…A non-linear relationship between dose and response was noted over the dose range from 5 to 25 cGy, for various biological processes in both animals and plants (Isaenkov et al, 1998). Also, there was more damage to DNA (genotoxicity) as a result of exposure to combined alpha, beta and gamma radionuclides at contaminated sites at Chernobyl than after similar low doses from an applied external gamma source only (Boubriak et al, 1992). Thus, low-level combined chronic irradiation at Chernobyl can be a strong stress factor, causing somatic mutations or epigenetic changes as well as perhaps germline mutations.…”