Viability of plant seed progeny from the east-ural radioactive trace: Radiation and weather conditions

Abstract

During 7-8 years, we investigated the quality of seed progeny of five herbaceous plant species (Bromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub, Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib., Stellaria graminea L., Melandrium album (Mill.) Garcke, and Plantago major L.) growing for a long time under low level radiation exposure (Kyshtym accident, Russia). The variability of weather conditions was assessed in the study areas. Environmental factors (temperature, precipitation and their ratio in different months) modified the radiobiological effects. The necessity of particular weather conditions was revealed for the maturation of high-quality seeds of studied plants species.