Cytogenetic variability in PInus sylvestris L. populations experiencing anthropogenic influence

Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, 249030 Obninsk, Russia

Abstract

Pinus sylvestris L. populations growing at the territory affected by nuclear waste storage facilities were monitored in 1997-2002. Cytogenetic damage levels within root meristem of seedlings significantly exceed corresponding controls. Populations experiencing man-caused influence have a higher seeds radioresistance and enlarged cytogenetic variance. These are considered as an indication of adaptation processes in the studied pine populations. An analysis of the structure of ecological-genetical variability is carried out. Changes of two components of the intrapopulational variance were studied in dependence on time and man-caused impact. The first component is engaged to the genetically determined variability of biological characteristics intrinsic for the species and is dominant in studied tree populations. The second is responsible for the variance originating from anthropogenic contamination of the natural habitat. A tendency of destabilizing dynamics and increasing mean values of intraclass correlation coefficient that is a measure of contribution from heterogeneity among trees into total cytogenetical variability is demonstrated under conditions of chronicle technogenic impact on pine populations.