[The action of low doses of gamma irradiation on the function of the glutathione system in corn (Zea mays L.)].

The glutathione system is the protecting system of all alive organisms. The paper is devoted to the study of the state of some components of the glutathione system in plant objects taking into account that forms differing in genome complexity vary in their reaction on the effect of the environmental factors. A series of experiments was fulfilled to study the influences of gamma radiation (the dose of 2.58 x 10(-3) C/kg) on growing corn seeds, differing in genome complexity. Biochemical indices were taken every 12 hours from the moment of seeding, which made it possible to watch the functioning of the glutathione protecting system in embryos, roots and shoots during the first seventy-two hours of growing. All the forms investigated responded to gamma radiation increasing the level of the glutathione peroxidase activity and showing no dependence on the genome complexity. Embryos of lines 102 and 502 did not respond to radiation, whereas in hybrids the level of restored glutathione fell, that confirmed more sensitive protecting system of hybrids.