Influence of Sayanogorsk Aluminum Plant emissions on morphological characteristics and phytopathology of Scots pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L., 1753)

Abstract

This article presents data on the variability of morphological features and cytogenetic indicators in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) growing in areas affected by the industrial activity of the Sayanogorsk Aluminum Plant (SAP). We demonstrated that in polluted plots located at a distance of 1 and 5 km from the plant, the reproductive organ indicators of pine significantly decreased, germination energy and viability decreased, and needle necrosis frequency increased compared with the control. A significant increase in the frequency of class III needle necrosis in experimental plots by 7.2–8.6 times compared with the control, as well as a decrease in germination energy and seed germination in experimental plots by 1.1 and 1.3–1.5 times indicates the strong negative impact of SAP emissions on pine. Mitotic index and frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the apical meristem cells of Scots Pine seedlings were determined by cytogenetic analysis. A considerable reduction in mitotic activity by 1.35 to 0.8 times was observed in the meristem cells of Scots Pine growing in experimental plots, compared with the control plot. A tendency toward an increase in the frequency of abnormal mitoses of Scots Pine in the experimental areas was observed. Thus, the data obtained made it possible to assess the condition of Scots Pine in areas exposed to the influence of SAP.