Cytogenetic polymorphism of seed progeny of white spruce trees (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) during the introduction in the Voronezh Region

The polymorphism of cytogenetic parameters of seed progeny in Picea glauca (Moench) Voss introduced in the Voronezh Region was established. Multidirectional cytogenetic reactions (changes in mitotic activity, cell passing times of mitosis stages. level and spectrum of mitosis disorders) of Picea glauca seed progeny were identified, and limits of mitotic and nucleolar apparatus characteristics variation were determined. Analysis of cytogenetic characteristics of Picea glauca seed progeny revealed their high heterogeneity. Among the seed progeny, six groups of the seedlings, differing in their stability, were identified: -mutable", -weakly mutable", and four intermediate groups. In the "mutable" group, there were high level of mitosis pathologies and the presence of pathologies associated with chromosomal damage, mitotic apparatus damage and cytotomy disorders. In this group mitosis delay was established at the prophase stage and cells with micronuclei (0-0.03 %) were detected. The "weakly mutable" group was characterized with the absence of mitosis pathologies, cells with micronuclei and residual nucleoli presence and low value of the mitotic index (1.9-2.9 %). Intermediate groups had high mitotic index (3.8-4.6 %) and the level of mitosis pathologies of (0.9-1.9 %) intermediate between "mutable" and "weakly mutable" groups, cell retention at the stage of metaphase. Disorders of mitosis in these groups were caused by the damages of chromosomes and mitotic apparatus. In these groups, cells with residual nucleoli in the interphase (0-0.02 A) and mitosis (0.1-0.7 A) and with micronuclei (0-0.04 %) were observed. The quantitative predominance of the certain group seedlings in each tree indicates the production of seed progeny, which can be divided on groups according to their cytogenetic indicators as sensitive or resistant to the environmental factors. The data obtained on the cytogenetic polymorphism of the seed progeny of the white spruce can be used in genetic selection works for the selection of maternal trees producing seed progeny with different stability of the genetic material. They should also be taken into account when earning out cytogenetic monitoring of environmental pollution using woody plants, because the presence of mutable and weakly mutable forms among seed progeny, as well as trees producing different numbers of seedlings with high and low stability of the genetic material, may affect the results obtained with small sample sizes.