Intrapopulation variation in the quality of dandelion seed progeny in zones of chemical and radioactive contamination

Abstract

Interfamilial variation in metal tolerance and radioresistance of seed progeny from F1 plants was studied in the dandelion from cenopopulations growing over several decades in gradients of radioactive or chemical contamination. The progeny from the impact zone of the Eastern Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT) proved to be highly viable but had latent injuries that accounted for a high sensitivity to additional techno� genic impact. In the F1 generation from the zone of chemical contamination, high seed viability was com� bined with increased tolerance to additional impact of radiation and heavy metals. No significant differences between responses to challenge with habitual and new factors were revealed in samples from either zone.