Effect of Uranium and Thorium Radionuclides on Biochemical Characteristics of Duschekia fruticosa in "Soil-Plant" System

Radiats Biol Radioecol. 2016 Sep;56(5):535-541.
[Article in English, Russian]

Abstract

The biochemical characteristics of Duschekiafruticosa, grown for a long time under a variety of exposure doses of natural background radiation (up to 150 μR/h) was studied. Uranium was found to make the dominant contribution to the y-background exposure doses. The pH-values and the content of organic matter in soils within the surveyed territory remained unchanged. Accumulation of radionuclides of uranium and thorium in the "soil-plant" system was studied. It is shown for the D. fruticosa that U and Th uptake decreased with y-background increasing. Study of anti-free radical and anti-peroxide cells' protection system indicated a balanced activity of prooxidant-antioxidant systems in the cells of the D. fruticosa leaves. The combined effect of incorporated uranium and thorium is accompanied by a significant increase in chlorophyll content in D. fruticosa.

MeSH terms

  • Alnus / metabolism*
  • Alnus / radiation effects
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / radiation effects
  • Photosynthesis / radiation effects*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / radiation effects
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / toxicity*
  • Thorium / toxicity
  • Uranium / toxicity

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Uranium
  • Thorium