Comparative radiosensitivity of morphometric, physiological and signaling parameters in wheat plants

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Radiation biology
• Plant physiology

Background:

• Understanding plant responses to ionizing radiation is crucial for various applications, including space exploration and environmental remediation.
• Assessing the impact of radiation on plant parameters is essential for predicting survival and adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively analyze morphometric, physiological, and electrical signal parameters in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) at different radiation doses.
• To test the hypothesis that plant signaling processes exhibit higher radiosensitivity compared to other plant parameters.

Main Methods:

• Wheat seeds were irradiated with accelerated electrons (3 MeV) at doses ranging from 25 to 400 Gy.
• Photosynthetic activity, pigment composition, and transpiration were measured using PAM fluorimetry, hyperspectral, and infrared imaging.
• Electrical signals induced by a stimulus were analyzed to assess signaling processes.

Main Results:

• Threshold doses for significant changes in morphometric and physiological parameters were 50-75 Gy.
• Statistically significant differences in electrical signal parameters were observed at the lowest dose of 25 Gy, compared to control.
• Electrical signaling processes demonstrated higher sensitivity to radiation than morphometric and physiological indicators.

Conclusions:

• Plant electrical signals are more sensitive to ionizing radiation than traditional morphometric and physiological parameters.
• This finding has implications for space biology, understanding plant behavior in radionuclide-contaminated areas, and breeding radioresistant plants.