Effect of radioactive pollution of soil on maize chromosomes

--Kravchenko, AN, Saltanovici, TI, Rojnevschi, MK

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of radioactive pollution on ontogenesis of maize F₁ hybrid M291MB. This hybrid was cultivated in six zones of Moldova, which differ in the level of radioactive pollution. The results indicate that variability of chromosome aberration frequency was determined by place of cultivation. The analysis of chromosome aberration frequency and spectrum showed such abnormalities as chromosome lagging, chromosome and chromatid bridges and fragments. We also observed the appearance of cells with two nuclei and nuclei with two or more nucleoli. This is possibly due to an increase of the RNA synthesis level, and appears to be connected with the activation of reparation systems. Thus, chronic irradiation of plants causes chromosome aberrations and results in gene pool degradation of maize.