¹Physics Faculty , University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza", Iasi, Romania
²Biology Faculty, University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza", Iasi, Romania
³University of Medicine, Hospital "Sf. Spiridon", Iasi, Romania

Radiation impact in the wide spread species Triticum aestivum L. was investigated by cytogenetic analyses carried out in collaboration with plant geneticists. VARIAN CLINAC 2100SC radiotherapy device was used to irradiate vegetal embryos with X-ray doses of 22.4 Gy, 44.8 Gy and 67.6 Gy, to a dose rate of 2.24 Gy/min. Before irradiation T. aestivum caryopses were let to germinate in controlled environmental conditions in INCUCELL room. Plant radioprotector was extracted in ethanol from another vegetal species, Viola tricolor L., known for its pharmaceutical use (provided in two concentrations of 0.5% and 5.0% by Plantavorel laboratory in Piatra Neamt).
Qualitative cytogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of aberrant mitoses characterized by: micronuclei, delayed or/and expelled chromosomes, cromatidian simple or multiple bridges as well as combined complex aberrations. Plant radioprotector had no specific effect on the types of chromosomal aberrations revealed by microscope observations. Two quantitative parameters were calculated, the aberration index and the mitotic index to evidence radioprotector effect. The main results are consistent with significant diminution of chromosomal aberration percentage in the T. aestivum embryos treated with V. tricolor ethanolic extract (for both concentrations used in the experiment). The underlying cellular mechanism could be discussed based on the simultaneous diminution of the mitotic index which can be associated with Bergonier-Tribondeau law of radiosensitivity.
This study is interesting not only for plant genetics but also for human radiobiology since it was shown that aberrant mitosis types are practically the same following mammal tissue irradiation. Further investigations are planned with focus on the radiation bioeffects on the free radical balance within the vegetal cell to search whether radioprotector influence is evident at biochemical level.