[Genetic disorders in the pollen cells of waxy barley in radioactive contamination after the Chernobyl accident].

Genotoxic effects during microsporogenesis and gametogenesis were studied in barley of the waxy strain grown on 3 experimental plots situated in the region of the Chernobyl disaster (plot 1 in the town of Chernobyl, plots 2 and 3 in the town of Yanov, 3 km away from the damaged power plant). It was determined that an increased level of radionuclide pollution and chronic irradiation during ontogenesis results in higher incidence of meiotic disturbances and abnormalities during formation of the male gametophyte. Incidence of waxy reversions in pollen grains depends on the activity of radionuclide pollutants as well. We suggest that selection affecting both diplont and haplont forms will provide for the absence of significant aberrations in subsequent plant generations.