23. BIOINDICATION APPROACH FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOGENIC IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

摘要

The results of both Allium-test application for the environment quality assessment and long-term field experiments that have been carried out on different species of wild and agricultural plants are discussed. Plant populations growing in areas with relatively low levels of pollution are characterized by the increased level of both cytogenetic disturbances and genetic diversity. The chronic low-dose exposure appears to be an ecological factor creating preconditions for possible changes in the genetic structure of a population. A long-term existence of some factors (either of natural origin or man-made) in the plants environment activates genetic mechanisms, changing a population's resistance to exposure. However, in different radioecological situations, genetic adaptation of plant populations to extreme edaphic conditions could be achieved at different rates. The findings presented clearly indicate that an adequate environment quality assessment cannot rely only on information about pollutant concentrations. This conclusion emphasizes the need to update some current principles of ecological standardization, which are still in use.