[The genetic processes in chronically irradiated natural populations of Centaurea scabiosa L. growing in the eastern Urals radioactive trace].

The examination of chronically irradiated natural populations of C. scabiosa L. have been carried out for 30 years at the territory of the east Urals radioactive trial. By using of different tests (frequency of aberrant cells, chlorophyll mutations and mutations in Lap locus) the mutation rates in chronically irradiated populations and in the control natural populations were compared. It was shown that long-term radiation influence caused changes in population genetic structure due to induction of new allelic forms and selection of more adapted genotypes.