Influence of 137Cs and 90Sr on vegetative and generative organs of Lepidium sativum L. and Tradescantia clone 02

The impact of 137Cs and 90Sr activity concentrations from 0.4 to 400 kBqźL-1 and from 1 to 200 kBqźL-1, respectively, on seed germination of Lepidium sativum was insignificant; however, all concentrations of 137Cs and 30 kBqźL-1 concentration of 90Sr slightly stimulated root growth. The accumulated 137Cs and 90Sr stimulated shoot and parenchyma cell growth; 137Cs suppressed RNA-polymerase II activity, and 90Sr, on the contrary, stimulated it. Different genotoxic effects on Tradescantia clone 02 stamen hair cells were observed with comparable 137Cs and 90Sr activity concentrations. Activity concentrations of 137Cs from 0.001 to 1.3 kBqźL-1 were more effective in Tradescantia clone 02 stamen hair cell reproduction, whereas the studied activity concentrations of 90Sr (from 0.002 to 640 kBqźL-1) induced more mutations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------