[The cytogenetic effect of chronic irradiation revealed using an analysis of the first two mitoses in the root meristem of germinating seeds of Crepis tectorum from the 30-kilometer zone of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station].

Peculiarities of the appearance of C. tectorum rootlet in the course of seed germination have prompted the authors to use the method of continuous germination of seeds in 0.01% colchicine solution and to analyze chromosome aberrations in the first tetraploid cells derived from early dividing cells. Since it has been shown that cells of the embryo's root meristem of dormant Crepis tectorum seeds are at the G1 stage, the observed, by the method used, chromatid aberrations in the cells that early enter mitosis, are probably induced by the incorporated radioactive products at stages S and (or) G2 during seed germination.