Morphological abnormalities in Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) at the territories contaminated as a result of the accident at Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 165; pp. 60 - 67
• Main Authors: Yoschenko, Vasyl, Nanba, Kenji, Yoshida, Satoshi, Watanabe, Yoshito, Takase, Tsugiko, Sato, Natsumi, Keitoku, Koji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Cancelling the apical dominance; Fukushima accident; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Japanese red pine; Morphological abnormalities; Pinus - growth & development; Pinus - radiation effects; Radiation; Radiation effects; Radiation Monitoring; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - toxicity; Fukushima accident; Radiation effects; Cancelling the apical dominance; Japanese red pine; Radiation; Morphological abnormalities
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.09.006

Our research, carried out in 2014–2016 at eight sites in the radioactive contaminated territories of Fukushima Prefecture, showed that the young trees of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) are sensitive to radiation. Irradiation induced cancellation of the apical dominance in this species. The effect is similar to that observed in young trees of Scots pine growing in the Chernobyl zone. At the same time, we did not observed any morphological abnormalities in mature trees of Japanese red pine. The probability of cancelling the apical dominance in Japanese red pine increased to 0.11 and 0.14 in the two less irradiated populations, and to 0.5 and 0.9 at sites were the absorbed dose rates were approximately 14 and 25 μGy h−1, respectively. Most of the observed abnormalities appeared in the second whorl after the beginning of exposure. No new abnormalities were observed in the fifth whorl. This temporal pattern is similar to those reported for Scots pine in Chernobyl and for Japanese fir in Fukushima. Additional detailed studies are necessary for interpretation of the observed temporal pattern and, in general, for explanation of the mechanism of formation of the morphological abnormalities. •Abnormalities in young Japanese red pine trees in Fukushima zone were studied.•Typical abnormality was cancelling the apical dominance, i.e. branching of the trunk.•Similar abnormalities were observed in Scots pine within the Chernobyl exclusion zone.•The abnormality probability correlated with the dose rate received by the trees.•Abnormalities occurred within 4 years after the beginning of exposure.