In this paper the main results of long-term (2003-2016) observations on Scots pine populations inhabiting sites affected by the Chernobyl accident are presented. Populations growing for many years under chronic radiation exposure are characterized by the enhanced mutation rates, increased genetic diversity, changes in the gene expression and in the level of genome-wide methylation, alterations in the temporal dynamics of cytogenetic abnormalities and genetic structure of populations. However, significant changes at the genetic level had no effects on enzymatic activity, morphological abnormalities, and reproductive ability of pine trees. The results presented increase our understanding of the long-term effects of chronic radiation exposure on plant populations in the wild nature and provide important information for the management and monitoring of radioactively contaminated territories.
Keywords: Antioxidants; Chernobyl accident; Chronic exposure; Cytogenetic effects; Gene expression; Genetic diversity; Genome-wide methylation; Morphological abnormalities; Reproductive ability; Scots pine; Temporal dynamics; Transcriptome.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.