Regional soil monitoring of natural ecosystems with multicomponent heavy metals contamination requires both geochemical studies and express-methods for soils’ mutagenicity assessment using reliable test systems. We studied the mutagenic potential of arable soils in Armenian agricultural landscapes using Tradescantia clone 02 in the soil–plant system. Biotesting was carried out using two main bioassays: Tradescantia stamen hairs mutations test (Trad-SHM) and Tradescantia micronucleus test (Trad-MN). According to Trad-SHM bioassay, the level of recessive mutations (pink cells – PC) in the studied soil samples significantly increased the conditional background. The maximum PC and genetically undefined mutation (colorless cells – CC) manifestation was in a soil sample from the Hrazdan region, 600 m away from the industrial zone, where the values of the studied parameters exceeded the background level by 28 and 3.4 times, respectively (p<0.001). In terms of stunted stamen hairs the highest value was in the soil variant Martuni-2 and exceeded the control level by 3.7 times. According to Trad-MN, a significant increase in the frequency of both test criteria was also observed in soil samples from the Hrazdan region, located 400 m, 600 m and 800 m away from the industrial zone, as well as in samples from the Gavar region by 1.8–2 times (p<0.05). A correlation analysis of the dependence of the level of genetic effects on the chemical element (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) content in the studied soil samples was carried out. To determine the level of soil pollution based on the concentration coefficient, the total pollution coefficient (Zc) and the sanitary-hygienic series were calculated.
ISSN 1995-4301
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