Volume 496, 15 October 2014, Pages 317–327
Genetic diversity in Scots pine populations along a radiation exposure gradient
- Received 28 March 2014, Revised 5 July 2014, Accepted 5 July 2014, Available online 1 August 2014
- Editor: J. P. Bennett
Highlights
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- Polymorphism of antioxidant enzymes was studied in affected Scots pine populations.
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- Genetic processes in affected Scots pine populations increase genetic diversity.
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- Chronic exposure at dose rates from 0.8 μGy/h lead to increasing of mutation rates.
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- Changes in population genetic structure were observed at dose rates from 10.4 μGy/h.
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- The higher rate of mutations had no effect on antioxidant enzymes activities.
Abstract
Polymorphisms
of antioxidant enzymes were studied in the endosperm and embryos of
seeds from Scots pine populations inhabiting sites in the Bryansk region
of Russia radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl
accident. Chronic radiation exposure at dose rates from 0.8 μGy/h led to
a significant increase in the rate of enzymatic loci mutations. The
main parameters of genetic variability of the affected Scots pine
populations had considerably higher values than those from the reference
site. Changes in the genetic makeup of Scots pine populations were
observed at dose rates greater than 10.4 μGy/h. However, the higher
mutation rate had no effect on the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Keywords
- Scots pine populations;
- Enzymatic loci mutations;
- Genetic diversity;
- Antioxidant enzymes;
- Chernobyl accident;
- Chronic radiation exposure
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
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