Zayika V. The forestry-physiological properties of vital functions of pine plantations in the estrangement zone of Chornobyl nuclear station

The subject of research: Scots pine tree stands exposed to different levels of ionizing irradiation, their full-sib and half-sib progeny and forest cultures created in the post-accident period. The aim of the investigation: to discover the morphophysiological reaction of Scots pine to the radiation injury and to develop the scientific basis for the selection of radioresistant forms of woody plants and the formation of biologically stable tree stands on the radioactively polluted areas. Methods of investigation: silvicultural, forest-valuation, genetic-selectional, electrophysiological, spectrophotometric, light microscopy, gas-liquid chromatography, labeled atoms (14C). The scientific novelty: formulation of the morphophysiological conception of the reaction of Scots pine phytocenoses, their progeny and silvicultures to the chronic combined ionizing irradiation; determination of the daily and seasonal patterns of Scots pine vital functions in the conditions of radiation influence; demonstration of theindividual variability of pine trees in the response to the ionizing iradiation; the suggestion of the methodological approaches to the selection of radioresistant forms of Scots pine. The level of introduction: the results of the research are planned to be applied for the creation and growing of biologically stable tree stands on the radioactively polluted areas; they are used in the educational process in NLTU of Ukraine for the courses of "Radiobiology", "Forestry", "Silvicultures". The area of employment: forestry.