Multiannual Assessment of Quality of Plantago major L. Seed Progeny from Kyshtym Radiation Accident Area: Weather-Dependent Effects

Abstract

The effects of low-dose radiation that are observed in plant populations in radioactively contaminated areas are variable. One of the reasons is the influence of fluctuating weather conditions and the interaction of radiation with weather factors. This article summarizes results of 12-year research on the viability and radioresistance of greater plantain (Plantago major L.) seed progeny growing in the East Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT) zone and in control (nonradioactive) areas, with consideration of weather conditions’ variability. The EURT was formed by the Kyshtym accident, which occurred in 1957 at the Mayak Production Association. Absorbed dose rates of P. major parental plants in the pollution gradient were 14.5–165.9 μGy h−1, which correspond to a low-dose range. Seed progeny quality was evaluated as seed weight, the survival rate, and root length of 21-day seedlings. Interannual variability in the studied parameters was high, and their ranges overlapped between EURT groups of seeds and control groups in most cases. The number of significant correlations between the parameters of seed quality and weather conditions was higher in EURT groups than in control populations. In the control groups of seeds, 88.9% of correlations were negative, whereas in the EURT groups, 78.5% were positive.

Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Seed Germination

“… Topics in this Special Issue. Overview of topics and articles related to them: seed quality [ 1 , 2 ], physical and biological factors [ 3 , 4 ], seed pre-treatment [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], management [ 9 , 10 ], salt and drought stress [ 11 , 12 ], and seed technology [ 13 ]. …”

“…Arceo-Gómez et al [1] studied the seeds of Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Piscidia piscipula, Fabaceae tree species from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). They used fresh physical and biological factors [3,4], seed pre-treatment [5][6][7][8], management [9,10], salt and drought stress [11,12], and seed technology [13].…”

“…Article [ 3 ] summarizes the results of a 12-year-long research project on the viability and radioresistance of greater plantain ( Plantago major L.) seed progenies growing in the East Ural Radioactive Trace zone and in control (nonradioactive) areas, with a consideration of the variability of the weather conditions in this area. Absorbed dose rates of P. major parental plants in the pollution gradient were 14.5–165.9 µGy h −1 ; the quality of the seed progenies was evaluated using seed weight, survival rate and the length of seedling’s roots.…”

“…In the control groups of seeds, 88.9% of correlations were negative, whereas in the contaminated groups, 78.5% were positive. Shimalina et al [ 3 ] indicated that, during research on radiobiological effects in natural populations of living organisms, it is necessary to take into account that the observed effects vary among different years.…”

Study of the Radiation Impact of a Uranium Mining Enterprise on the Surrounding Soil and Flora in Turkestan Region

“…The study of mechanisms of damage and adaptation of plants at different levels of their organization (phytocenotic, population, organismal, cellular, molecular) in areas of technogenic impact is an important task, since the results obtained can serve as the basis for conducting comprehensive adequate diagnostics of the state of ecosystems and forecasting changes in their state [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”