INVESTIGATION OF THE ABNORMAL MORPHOGENESIS AMONG THE CONIFEROUS PLANTS FROM THE CHERNOBYL ZONE

Sorochinsky B.V., Zelena L.B.

Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Sciences

of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

Chernobyl accident led to the different disturbances of the plant development. The appearance of different morphological anomalies among coniferous may be also caused with irradiation. The changeability of needles length seems to be the most typical example or the morphological abnormalities. This phenomenon was revealed during the first years after the accident and it is indicated again since 1992-1993 among young planted trees. Our investigation was aimed to carry out comparison analysis of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies morphological abnormal needles in term of some morphological, biochemical and cytogenetic features. Length of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies abnormal needles is differed from control samples in 2-3 times. At the same time differences between length of Pinus sylvestris abnormal needles and Picea abies control samples and between Picea abies abnormal needles and Pinus sylvestris control samples were not observed. Results of immunochemical researches showed the same numbers of the alpha- and beta-tubulin, actin-, hsp-70- and phosphotyrosine-isotypes for the proteins isolated from the control spruce leaves and morphologically similar abnormal pine leaves and for proteins isolated from the abnormal spruce leaves and control pine leaves as well. We have also performed the cytogenetic analysis in meristematic tissues of Pinus sylvestris needles formed morphological anomalies. The increase of the number of chromosomal aberrations and mitotic abnormalities was observed. Total rate of chromosomal aberrations in needle-base meristematic cells amounted to 11.76% including cells with fragments - 3.26% and cells with bridges – 8.5%. Number of c-mitoses revealed in morphologically abnomal needles of Pinus sylvestris were 24.1%. The results obtained suggest that abnomal morphogenesis of conifer trees might to be caused with significant biochemical and genome changes.