White clover from the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl NPP: Morphological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics.

A comprehensive study of the biological effects of chronic radiation exposure (8 μGy/h) in populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) from the Chernobyl exclusion zone was carried out. White clover is one of the most important pasture legumes, having many agricultural applications.

Radiation exposure in the remote period after the Chernobyl accident caused oxidative stress and genetic effects in Scots pine populations.

Even 30 years after the Chernobyl accident, biological effects of irradiation are observed in the chronically exposed Scots pine populations. Chronic radiation exposure at dose rates above 50 mGy∙yr caused oxidative stress and led to the increase of antioxidants concentrations in these populations. Genetic variability was examined for 6 enzymes and 14 enzymatic loci of 6 Scots pine populations.