Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2002 number 2

The influence of lead (II) cations and of biologically active substances from rhododendron and wormwood on the seeds of wheat Prilenskaya-19 as well as on the seeds of willow-herb collected from territories of natural and chemical-technogenous pollution by lead (II) compounds was studied in a laboratory experiment (physiological properties, activity of antioxidant systems, stability and differential activity of the genome, including those in reparation processes). For this, a comprehensive cytologic-biochemical method of estimating the activity of the genome of root meristem of shoots in translation, replication and reparation reactions was applied. The results obtained permit elucidating the mechanism of biochemical adaptation of wheat Prilenskaya-19 and of willow-herb to various Pb²⁺ concentrations and their influence on the survival of shoots. It is established that the increase in viability of shoots within the range of Pb²⁺ concentrations of 0.1-0.5 mM in the laborattory experiment and 5-10 mcM of ash in the subterranean organs of willow-herb (under natural conditions) is attained due to activation of antioxidant and/or DNA-repairing systems. It is demonstrated that a preliminary treatment of wheat seeds with willow-herb and rhododendron extracts exerts a protective action, activating additionally DNA-repairing and antioxidant systems. P. 127-136