Chronic radiation exposure as an ecological factor: Hypermethylation and genetic differentiation in irradiated Scots pine populations.

Genetic and epigenetic changes were investigated in chronically irradiated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations from territories that were heavily contaminated by radionuclides as result of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. In comparison to the reference site, the genetic diversity revealed by electrophoretic mobility of AFLPs was found to be significantly higher at the radioactively contaminated areas. In addition, the genome of pine trees was significantly hypermethylated at 4 of the 7 affected sites.

[Influence of γ-Irradiated Seeds on the Enzyme Activity in Barley Seedlings].

Influence of γ-irradiation of barley seeds (Nur variety) at the doses of 8-50 Gy on catalase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and guaiacol peroxidase activities was studied in the seedlings on the 3, 5 and 7 days after germination. It has been shown that activities of the studied enzymes increase in the dose range that causes the growth stimulation in the seedlings (16-20 Gy).

[Polymorphism of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase in the Chronically Irradiated Scots Pine Populations].

Polymorphism of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme was studied in the Scots pine populations growing in the sites of Bryansk region which were radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. It was revealed that the frequency of mutations in isozyme loci increased along with the level of a dose rate (7-130 mGy/year) in the sites under the study. Significant changes in the activity of this enzyme did not depend on the level of radiation exposure.