A variability of the reproductive capacity of Lonicera caerulea has been studied in its natural pop ulation in the Altai Mountains (Kamenny Belok Ridge). The study was carried out in a local area of geological heterogeneity that had been selected as a result of geological and geophysical surveys. The significant influ ence of a nondifferentiated complex of geoecological factors within the given area on the weight of fruits, as well as their seed production, germinating capacity, and germination readiness in the sweet berry honey suckle, has been revealed. It has been assumed that a change in the secondary metabolism in L. caerulea, which occurs under the influence of a complex of factors related to the geological activity, has an impact on the reproductive activity of the plants.
Background. In active fault zones, geophysical and geochemical anomalies may have a genotoxic effect on plants growing there, as one of the factors of evolutionary transformation of plant populations. Materials and methods. We applied a cytogenetic analysis to evaluate the genotoxic effect on a Lonicera caerulea L. (blue honeysuckle) natural population in one of the active fault zones in the Altai Mountains. Results. We derived principal cytogenetic indices (i.e., mitotic, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase indices as well as proportion and range of abnormal mitoses) for meristematic cells of Lonicera caerulea seedlings. The increase in the mitotic activity of meristematic cells from the sites in the local fault zone is connected with the occurrence of the prophase-metaphase block to prevent consequences of an increased cell death (as a result of abnormal mitoses in these phases) and to compensate their losses by a greater number of divisions. We observed the increase in the proportion of abnormal mitoses in samples from almost all the test sites, compared with the control site. This demonstrates the increase in the genotoxic effect of geophysical and geochemical anomalies in these sites. The range of abnormal mitoses of samples from all the test sites shows the increase in the proportion of abnormalities in metaphase, compared to the control site where they can be equally found in metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Conclusion. The results demonstrate changes of mitotic activity, frequency of occurrence and the spectrum of mitotic anomalies in the root meristem of blue honeysuckle, which grows in conditions with contrast geophysical characteristics.
Рассмотрены особенности строен ия соцветия уклоняющейся формы Lonicera caerulea subsp. altaica. Проведен сравнительный анализ развития соцветия и формирования мужского гаметофита у растений с нормальным строением цветка и уклоняющихся форм. Изучен процесс микроспорогенеза у тератной формы, выявлены аномалии мейоза, ведущие к стерильности пыльцы. В заключение сделана попытка установить взаимосвязи тератологических изменений соцветия с процессами микроспорогенеза и дифференциацией микроспор.
The Molnieboi Spur is located at the northwestern margin of the Katun Range, the highmountain part of the Altai Mountains. Unique geological and geophysical characteristics of the Molnieboi Spur made it an attractive target for complex botanical studies including botanical, soil, geological, geochemical, geophysical, radiation, and soil gas surveys and analyses. In this paper, we present the first version of the geographic information system (GIS) application for the Molnieboi Spur developed using the software QGIS. A digital elevation model for the study area was derived from a detailed topographic map. The database was filled with tabular data on about 100 parameters including: eight botanical characteristics of the Lonicera caerulea local population, two cytogenetic indices of Lonicera caerulea seeds, five types of biochemical parameters of Lonicera caerulea leaves and fruits, three types of geochemical characteristics of the local soils, three types of radiation parameters of the local soils and Lonicera caerulea plants, and one soil gas parameter. The results of the magnetometric survey were inserted as a raster image. A visual analysis of the maps produced allows one to better understand the spatial relationships between various natural components of the Molnieboi Spur.
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