The article discuss the results of cytogenetic studies of seed offspring of walnut (Juglans regia L.), which is an introduced species in the Voronezh region. Modern ideas about the level of adaptation of introduced plants should be based on an assessment of the cytological foundations of heredity of seed progeny. This will make possible to reveal the level of stability of the genetic system of plants growing outside the habitat conditions usual for a given species. Nuts of the 2017 harvest were collected from mother plants of 30-35 years of age of seed origin, growing on private farmsteads in Voronezh. To study the cytogenetic characteristics, squashed preparations were prepared according to the standard technique. The following cytogenetic characteristics were studied in the root meristem of seed seedlings: mitotic activity, cell fractions at various stages of mitosis, the level and spectrum of mitosis pathologies, the size of nucleoli and the spectrum of their types, and the occurrence of cells with a persistent nucleolus at the stage of metaphase, anaphase and telophase of mitosis. Statistical data processing was performed using the statistical software package Stadia 7.0 Professional (InCo, Russia) and MedCalc 17.5.3. (MedCalc Software, Osten, Belgium). The presence of three polymorphic groups of seedlings according to the studied cytogenetic parameters was revealed: mutable (with a high level of pathological mitosis), low-mutable (with a low level of cytogenetic disorders), and intermediate. The cytogenetic characteristics for each of the selected groups of seedlings were described in detail. The mechanisms of homeostasis maintaining at the cellular level are discussed for above polymorphic groups. A small proportion of seedlings with a high level of cytogenetic abnormalities (7.5 %) and the predominance of seedlings with average (70 %) and low (22.5 %) values of pathological mitoses indicate a high degree of adaptation of the parent trees of the introduced walnut to the environmental conditions of the Voronezh region. Using ROC-analysis, predictors have been established for assigning any seedling to one of the selected model groups (mutable or low mutable). These predictors were: the proportions of cells at the prophase and metaphase stages, the level of pathological mitoses with and without prophase, the frequency of vacuolated and compact nucleoli. The obtained data of cytogenetic studies can be used to develop recommendations for improving the system of seed production and selection of new forms of walnuts.

Currently, the depletion of the gene pool of forest woody plants is observed due to the fact that in the course of selective felling, specimens valuable for economic characteristics were destroyed and seeds from the remaining specimens were used, which did not have the best qualities. It was noted that a high level of genetic heterogeneity allows the population to adapt to changing environmental conditions, ensures the stability of the population and is a resource for breeding. The selection of valuable genotypes in the creation of forest seed plantations, which is carried out according to the phenotype, is based on the heterogeneity of populations. Meanwhile, studies show that phenotypically normal trees do not always produce good offspring. The cytogenetic method allows assessing the offspring. With its help, it is possible to distinguish among the seed offspring the mother trees of the group with different levels of stability of the genetic material. The aim of the work was to identify markers among cytogenetic parameters for the selection of trees producing seed offspring with different stability of the genetic material. The objects of the study were seedlings of seeds of phenotypically normal Scots pine trees growing in the Khopersky State Nature Reserve (51°10’56.9″N 41°44’17.2″E), and white spruce growing in the Botanical Garden. prof. B.M. Kozo-Polyansky Voronezh State University (51°42’41.57 «N 39°12’17.57″E). The trees had no visible pest damage. The method of preparation and analysis of preparations of seed sprouts is described in the work of Butorina A.K. (2000). In the course of the study, 20 cytogenetic parameters were determined: the mitotic index (counted with and without taking into account cells at the prophase of mitosis), the level of mitotic pathologies (counted with and without taking into account cells at the prophase of mitotic), the proportions of cells at the stages of prophase, metaphase, anaphase , the proportions of cells with 1–10 nucleoli in the nucleus of interphase cells, the proportion of cells with micronuclei, the proportion of cells with residual nucleoli in interphase and mitosis. Statistical processing of the study results was carried out using the STADIA 7.0 and MedCalc 17.5.3 software. The diagnostic value of the indicator is characterized by the area under the ROC-curve: 0.9–1.0 – excellent; 0.8–0.9 – very good; 0.7–0.8 – good, 0.6–0.7 – average, 0.6 and less – unsatisfactory. Among the cytogenetic indicators, there are those that are suitable for separating the mutable group from the weakly mutable and intermediate, as well as the weakly mutable from the intermediate. In pine, these include the proportion of cells at the prophase stage and the average number of nucleoli in the nucleus, in spruce – the mitotic index without taking into account cells at the prophase stage, the level of mitotic pathologies with and without taking into account cells at the prophase stage and the proportion of cells at the metaphase stage. There are indicators that make it possible to distinguish the mutable group from the weakly mutable and from the intermediate, but are not suitable for separating the weakly mutable group from the intermediate. These include the mitotic index, calculated taking into account cells at the prophase stage in pine, and the proportion of cells at the metaphase and ana-telophase stages in spruce. According to some indicators, it is possible to distinguish the intermediate group from the mutable and the weakly mutable, but it is impossible to distinguish the mutable group from the weakly mutable. In pine, such indicators are the proportion of cells in the metaphase, and in spruce, the proportion of cells with residual nucleoli in the interphase and meta-telophase. Indicators have been identified that make it possible to distinguish only mutable group from weakly mutable (in pine, the proportion of cells at the ana-telophase stage), and weakly mutable group from intermediate (in pine, the mitotic index taking into account cells at the prophase stage, the level of mitotic pathologies with and without taking into account cells at prophase stage, in spruce – mitotic index, taking into account cells at the prophase stage, the proportion of cells with micronuclei).

Путем определения соотношения содержания хлорофиллов и каротиноидов в растительных экстрактах, измерения значений обшей и удельной каталитической активности пероксидазы, каталазы и супероксиддисмутазы, вычисления содержания вторичных продуктов пероксидного окисления липидов в сочетании с элементным анализом почвенных и растительных образцов нами был изучен оксидативный статус кальцефитных растений: Бурачок Гмелина (Alyssum gmelinii), Лен многолетний (Linum perenne) и Шлемник приземистый (Scutellaria supina), произрастающих в различных условиях – на черноземных почвах Воронежской области и в условиях искусственно созданной модели альпийской горки с меловыми почвами. Показано, что на искусственно созданной альпийской горке условия произрастания для видов Бурачок Гмелина (Alyssum gmelinii) и Шлемник приземистый (Scutellaria supina) более благоприятны, чем на черноземе, тогда как для льна многолетнего (Linum perenne) по биохимическим показателям не удалось установить более предпочтительный для него вид почвы.

В статье приведены результаты исследования по использованию молекулярно-генетического анализа на основе ПЦР с использованием шести RAPD-праймеров. Исследование проводилось на 8 видах представителей рода Rhododendron L. с целью выявления индивидуальных спектров ампликонов и дальнейшей паспортизации. Число амплифицированных фрагментов ДНК варьировалось в зависимости от праймера от 16 (праймер Oligo 2) до 18 (праймер Oligo 4, Oligo 6, Oligo 1), а их размеры – от 170 до 2800 п.н. В среднем, при RAPD-анализе у видов рода рододендрон один праймер инициировал синтез 18,16 фрагмента ДНК. Общее количество локусов амплификации для каждого праймера по 8 видам составило 104. На основе полученных данных было определено процентное сходство в структуре ДНК представителей разных видов. Показано, что данный вид ПЦР анализа является весьма информативным при паспортизации рододендронов, но, безусловно, результаты данной работы необходимо подкреплять другими видами молекулярно-генетических исследований.

Проведено исследование по изучению эффективности применения стандартной методики выделения ДНК из растений рода Rhododendron. Оценку методики выделения проводили на основе трех параметров: возможной деградации ДНК в ходе электрофоретического разделения полученных препаратов в агарозном геле, концентрация и чистота полученных образцов, анализируемых по спектрофотометрическим характеристикам препаратов, и воспроизводимость результатов ПЦР. Показано, что стандартный метод выделения нуклеиновых кислот не является пригодным по отношению к растениям данного рода и дальнейшие исследования не возможны по причине сильной деградации образцов и содержания большого количества примесей, препятствующих проведению реакций рестрикции и ПЦР. Для получения качественного препарата ДНК были изменены некоторые этапы и подобраны оптимальные температурные, временные и концентрационные параметры методики, что, в свою очередь, позволило получить образец дезоксирибонуклеиновой кислоты без признаков деградации и примесей.

Cytogenetic characteristics (mitotic index, level and spectrum of pathological mitosis, sizes of single and pair nucleoli, frequency of polynucleolar cells, nucleoli's types, frequency of persistent nucleoli in stages of metaphase telophase of mitosis) of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) seed progeny were studied in some districts of Voronezh, which differed in degree of air pollution. The increase of spectrum and level of mitosis damages was revealed in experimental areas. The essential resistance of pathological mitosis level to different degrees of the environmental contamination has been shown. The influence of air pollution on mitotic activity was not observed. The increase of nucleoli's surface area and the number of nucleoli in cells, the appearance of persistent nucleoli at stages of metaphase telophase and the rising of cell number with high-active nucleoli's types were marked on trial territories. Possible adaptive mechanisms to stress, which are connected with changes of nucleolar characteristics, arediscussed. The correlation between cytogenetic characteristics (pathological mitosis level, surface area of single nucleoli in interphase cells) of birch seed progeny and frequency of micronuclei in children's buccal mucosa was revealed. We can conclude that cytogenetic characteristics of birch seed progeny are perspective for estimation of the environmental conditions for the humans.

Micronucleus frequency in buccal mucosa from the oral cavity of children as well as nucleolar structural characteristics (surface area of single nucleoli as well as their number and type) in the root meristem of seed progeny of birch (Betula pendula Roth) were studied in some districts of Voronezh City and Voronezh Region (Novovoronezh Town, Zemlyansk Village). Similar trends of changes in cytogenetic parameters have been revealed for both subjects. Regression analysis allowed us to generate an equation relating the cytogenetic parameters of birch seed progeny (surface area of single nucleoli) and humans (frequency of micronuclei in buccal mucosa of children). This study can be considered as a result of cytogenetic monitoring of environmental pollution in some areas of Voronezh City and Voronezh Region.

Cytogenetic parameters (the mitotic rate and the frequency of pathological mitoses) of the seed offspring of weeping birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and the frequency of micronuclei in the buccal epithelium of children living in several raions (districts) of the city of Voronezh differing in environmental conditions were studied. Judging from these parameters, the environmental situation was the worst in the Sovetskii raion. A correlation was found between the frequency of pathological mitoses in the roots of birch seedlings and the frequency of micronuclei in the buccal epithelial cells of children. This indicates that the cytogenetic monitoring data obtained in plants may be extrapolated to man.