Influence of Chronic Ionizing Radiation on the Variability of Mitotic Activity of Pinus sylvestris L. Tissues

The development of nuclear power engineering will increase in the future, due to the continued likelihood of radionuclides entering the environment. The relevance of studying the genetic material of conifers as a reliable bioindicator was revealed. It is known that under the influence of ionizing radiation there is an accumulation of genetic abnormalities in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) progeny. The stages of gametogenesis, zygotes and young seedlings of plant organisms are most sensitive to ionizing radiation. It is important to determine the variability of the mitotic index (MI) of tissues of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) progeny in areas with different levels of ionizing radiation, including in the exclusion zone. The exposure dose rate was measured at the soil level and 1 m from the ground surface. Germination of seeds was carried out in a thermostat on wet filter paper. Roots of seedlings 0.5–1 cm long were fixed in a mixture of 96 % ethanol and glacial acetic acid. Root staining was carried out in a solution of acetocarmine. Tissue softening was carried out with a strong chloral hydrate solution. The total number of dividing cells, as well as pathological mitoses (PM) were counted on squash preparations using a microscope. The mitotic index and the duration of the phases of mitosis were determined. An increase in the level of radioactive contamination increases the cell division rate in prophase, anaphase, and telophase, but decreases the duration of metaphase, and also changes the relative duration of mitosis phases. With an increase in the exposure dose rate, the number of pathological mitoses naturally increases. The spectrum of mitosis disorders is represented by various abnormalities of the chromosome apparatus in anaphase: exit and lagging of chromosomes, bridges. Herewith, the number of anaphases with bridges increases significantly with simultaneous exit and lagging of chromosomes.