%0 Journal Article
%T Cytogenetic response of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus, 1753) (Pinaceae) to heavy metals
%A Mikhail Belousov
%A Olga Mashkina
%A Vasily Popov
%J Comparative Cytogenetics
%D 2012
%I Pensoft Publishers
%R 10.3897/compcytogen.v6i1.2017
%X We studied cytogenetic reactions of Scots pine seedlings to heavy metals ¨C lead, cupric and zinc nitrates applied at concentrations 0.5 to 2000 ¦ÌM. We determined the range of concentrations of heavy metals that causes mutagenic effect. Lead was found to cause the strongest genotoxicity as manifested by significant increase in the frequency of pathological mitosis, occurrence of fragmentations and agglutinations of chromosomes, various types of bridges, and a significant number of the micronuclei which were absent in the control. Possible cytogenetic mechanisms of the cytotoxic action of heavy metals are discussed.
%K Scots pine
%K heavy metals
%K lead nitrates
%K zinc nitrates
%K cupric nitrates
%K mitosis
%K chromosomal abnormalities
%K micronuclei
%U http://www.pensoft.net/journals/compcytogen/article/2017/