Different nitrogen acquirement and utilization strategies might determine the ecological competition between ferns and angiosperms.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The abundance or decline of fern populations in response to environmental change has been found to be largely dependent on specific physiological properties that distinguish ferns from angiosperms. Many studies have focused on water use efficiency and stomatal behaviours, but the effects of nutrition acquirement and utilization strategies on niche competition between ferns and flowering plants are rarely reported. METHODS: We collected 34 ferns and 42 angiosperms from the Botanic Garden of Hokkaido University for nitrogen (N), sulphur (S), NO3- and SO42- analysis. We then used a hydroponic system to compare the different N and S utilization strategies between ferns and angiosperms under N deficiency conditions. KEY RESULTS: Ferns had a significantly higher NO3--N concentration and NO3--N/N ratio than angiosperms, although the total N concentration in ferns was remarkably lower than that in the angiosperms. Meanwhile, a positive correlation between N and S was found, indicating that nutrient concentration is involved in assimilation. Pteris cretica, a fern species subjected to further study, maintained a slow growth rate and lower N requirement in response to low N stress, while both the biomass and N concentration in wheat (Triticum aestivum) responded quickly to N deficiency conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The different nutritional strategies employed by ferns and angiosperms depended mainly on the effects of phylogenetic and evolutionary diversity. Ferns tend to adopt an opportunistic strategy of limiting growth rate to reduce N demand and store more pooled nitrate, whereas angiosperms probably utilize N nutrition to ensure as much development as possible under low N stress. Identifying the effects of mineral nutrition on the evolutionary results of ecological competition between plant species remains a challenge.

Physiological Role of Aerobic Fermentation Constitutively Expressed in an Aluminum-Tolerant Cell Line of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Aluminum (Al)-tolerant tobacco cell line ALT301 derived from SL (wild-type) hardly exhibits Al-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with SL. Molecular mechanism leading to this phenotype was investigated comparatively with SL. Under normal growth condition, metabolome data suggested the activation of glycolysis and lactate fermentation but the repression of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in ALT301, namely aerobic fermentation, which seemed to be transcriptionally controlled partly by higher expression of genes encoding lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. Microarray and gene ontology analyses revealed the upregulation of the gene encoding related to APETALA2.3 (RAP2.3)-like protein, one of the group VII ethylene response factors (ERFVIIs), in ALT301. ERFVII transcription factors are known to be key regulators for hypoxia response that promotes substrate-level ATP production by glycolysis and fermentation. ERFVIIs are degraded under normoxia by the N-end rule pathway of proteolysis depending on both oxygen and nitric oxide (NO), and NO is produced mainly by nitrate reductase (NR) in plants. In ALT301, levels of the NR gene expression (NIA2), NR activity and NO production were all lower compared with SL. Consistently, the known effects of NO on respiratory pathways were also repressed in ALT301. Under Al-treatment condition, NO level increased in both lines but was lower in ALT301. These results suggest that the upregulation of the RAP2.3-like gene and the downregulation of the NIA2 gene and resultant NO depletion in ALT301 coordinately enhance aerobic fermentation, which seems to be related to a higher capacity to prevent ROS production in mitochondria under Al stress.

LjMOT1, a high-affinity molybdate transporter from Lotus japonicus, is essential for molybdate uptake, but not for the delivery to nodules.

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential nutrient for plants, and is required for nitrogenase activity of legumes. However, the pathways of Mo uptake from soils and then delivery to the nodules have not been characterized in legumes. In this study, we characterized a high-affinity Mo transporter (LjMOT1) from Lotus japonicus. Mo concentrations in an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized line (ljmot1) decreased by 70-95% compared with wild-type (WT). By comparing the DNA sequences of four AtMOT1 homologs between mutant and WT lines, one point mutation was found in LjMOT1, which altered Trp292 to a stop codon; no mutation was found in the other homologous genes. The phenotype of Mo concentrations in F2 progeny from ljmot1 and WT crosses were associated with genotypes of LjMOT1. Introduction of endogenous LjMOT1 to ljmot1 restored Mo accumulation to approximately 60-70% of the WT. Yeast expressing LjMOT1 exhibited high Mo uptake activity, and the Km was 182 nm. LjMOT1 was expressed mainly in roots, and its expression was not affected by Mo supply or rhizobium inoculation. Although Mo accumulation in the nodules of ljmot1 was significantly lower than that of WT, it was still high enough for normal nodulation and nitrogenase activity, even for cotyledons-removed ljmot1 plants grown under low Mo conditions, in this case the plant growth was significantly inhibited by Mo deficiency. Our results suggest that LjMOT1 is an essential Mo transporter in L. japonicus for Mo uptake from the soil and growth, but is not for Mo delivery to the nodules.

Cesium Uptake by Rice Roots Largely Depends Upon a Single Gene, HAK1, Which Encodes a Potassium Transporter.

Incidents at the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear power stations have resulted in widespread environmental contamination by radioactive nuclides. Among them, 137cesium has a 30 year half-life, and its persistence in soil raises serious food security issues. It is therefore important to prevent plants, especially crop plants, from absorbing radiocesium. In Arabidopsis thaliana, cesium ions are transported into root cells by several different potassium transporters such as high-affinity K+ transporter 5 (AtHAK5). Therefore, the cesium uptake pathway is thought to be highly redundant, making it difficult to develop plants with low cesium uptake. Here, we isolated rice mutants with low cesium uptake and reveal that the Oryza sativa potassium transporter OsHAK1, which is expressed on the surfaces of roots, is the main route of cesium influx into rice plants, especially in low potassium conditions. During hydroponic cultivation with low to normal potassium concentrations (0-206 µM: the normal potassium level in soil), cesium influx in OsHAK1-knockout lines was no greater than one-eighth that in the wild type. In field experiments, knockout lines of O. sativa HAK1 (OsHAK1) showed dramatically reduced cesium concentrations in grains and shoots, but their potassium uptake was not greatly affected and their grain yields were similar to that of the wild type. Our results demonstrate that, in rice roots, potassium transport systems other than OsHAK1 make little or no contribution to cesium uptake. These results show that low cesium uptake rice lines can be developed for cultivation in radiocesium-contaminated areas.

Effects of Cadmium Treatment on the Uptake and Translocation of Sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and non-essential element for plants, whereas phytochelatins and glutathione are low-molecular-weight sulfur compounds that function as chelators and play important roles in detoxification. Cadmium exposure is known to induce the expression of sulfur-assimilating enzymes and sulfate uptake by roots. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Cd-induced changes remains largely unknown. Accordingly, we analyzed the effects of Cd treatment on the uptake and translocation of sulfate and accumulation of thiols in Arabidopsis thaliana Both wild type (WT) and null mutant (sel1-10 and sel1-18) plants of the sulfate transporter SULTR1;2 exhibited growth inhibition when treated with CdCl2 However, the mutant plants exhibited a lower growth rate and lower Cd accumulation. Cadmium treatment also upregulated the transcription of SULTR1;2 and sulfate uptake activity in WT plants, but not in mutant plants. In addition, the sulfate, phytochelatin and total sulfur contents were preferentially accumulated in the shoots of both WT and mutant plants treated with CdCl2, and sulfur K-edge XANES spectra suggested that sulfate was the main compound responsible for the increased sulfur content in the shoots of CdCl2-treated plants. Our results demonstrate that Cd-induced sulfate uptake depends on SULTR1;2 activity, and that CdCl2 treatment greatly shifts the distribution of sulfate to shoots, increases the sulfate concentration of xylem sap and upregulates the expression of SULTRs involved in root-to-shoot sulfate transport. Therefore, we conclude that root-to-shoot sulfate transport is stimulated by Cd and suggest that the uptake and translocation of sulfate in CdCl2-treated plants are enhanced by demand-driven regulatory networks.

Arsenic alters uptake and distribution of sulphur in Pteris vittata.

Low-molecular-weight thiol (LMWT) synthesis has been reported to be directly induced by arsenic (As) in Pteris vittata, an As hyperaccumulator. Sulphur (S) is a critical component of LMWTs. Here, the effect of As treatment on the uptake and distribution of S in P. vittata was investigated. In P. vittata grown under low S conditions, the presence of As in the growth medium enhanced the uptake of SO4(2-), which was used for LMWT synthesis in fronds. In contrast, As application did not affect SO4(2-) uptake in Nephrolepis exaltata, an As non-hyperaccumulator. Moreover, the isotope microscope system revealed that S absorbed with As accumulated locally in a vacuole-like organelle in epidermal cells, whereas S absorbed alone was distributed uniformly. These results suggest that S is involved in As transport and/or accumulation in P. vittata. X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis revealed that the major As species in the fronds and roots of P. vittata were inorganic As(III) and As(V), respectively, and that As-LMWT complexes occurred as a minor species. Consequently, in case of As accumulation in P. vittata, S possibly acts as a temporary ligand for As in the form of LMWTs in intercellular and/or intracellular transport (e.g. vacuolar sequestration).

Verification of radiocesium decontamination from farmlands by plants in Fukushima.

The purpose of this study was to verify radiocesium decontamination from Fukushima farmland by plants and to screen plants useful for phytoremediation. Thirteen species from three families (Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae) of crops were grown in shallow and deeply cultivated fields (0-8 and 0-15 cm plowing, respectively). To change plowing depth was expected to make different contacting zone between root system and radiocesium in soil. The radioactivity values of the plants due to the radiocesium ¹³4Cs and ¹³7Cs were 22-179 and 29-225 Bq kg dry weight⁻¹, respectively. The ¹³4Cs and ¹³7Cs transfer factors for plants grown in the shallow field ranged from 0.021 to 0.12 and fro 0.019 to 0.13, respectively, with the geometric means of 0.051 and 0.057, respectively. The ¹³4Cs and ¹³7Cs transfer factors for plants grown in the deep field ranged from 0.019 to 0.13 and from 0.022 to 0.13, respectively, with the geometric means of 0.045 and 0.063, respectively. Although a reducing ratio was calculated to evaluate the decrease in radiocesium from contaminated soil during cultivation (i.e., phytoremediation ability), no plant species resulted in a remarkable decrease in radiocesium in soil among the tested crops. These results should be followed up for several years and further analyses are required to evaluate whether the phytoremediation technique is applicable to radioactively contaminated farmlands.

Effect of phosphorus levels on the protein profiles of secreted protein and root surface protein of rice.

Plant roots are complicated organs that absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also play an essential role in protecting plants from attack by soil pathogens and develop a beneficial role with some soil microorganisms. Plant-derived rhizosphere proteins (e.g., root secretory proteins and root surface binding proteins) are considered to play important roles in developing mutual relationships in the rhizosphere. In the rhizosphere, where plant roots meet the surrounding environment, it has been suggested that root secretory protein and root surface binding protein are important factors. Furthermore, it is not known how the physiological status of the plant affects the profile of these proteins. In this study, rice plants were grown aseptically, with or without phosphorus nutrition, and proteins were obtained from root bathing solution (designated as root secretory proteins) and obtained using 0.2 M CaCl2 solution (designated as root surface binding proteins). The total number of identified proteins in the root bathing solution was 458, and the number of root surface binding proteins was 256. More than half of the proteins were observed in both fractions. Most of the proteins were categorized as either having signal peptides or no membrane transport helix sites. The functional categorization suggested that most of the proteins seemed to have secretory pathways and were involved in defense/disease-related functions. These characteristics seem to be unique to rhizosphere proteins, and the latter might be part of the plants strategy to defeat pathogens in the soil. The low phosphorus treatment significantly increased the number of pathogenesis-related proteins in the root secretory proteins, whereas the change was small in the case of the root surface binding proteins. The results suggested that the roots are actively and selectively secreting protein into the rhizosphere.

Reduction of Radiocesium in Internal- and Surface-Contaminated Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) during Washing and Processing.

Radiocesium dynamics data during food processing are required for the realistic estimation of internal radiation content in food. Radiocesium contamination of leafy vegetables can occur externally due to the adhesion of fallout and/or resuspension from the air, and internally from soil via the root transport. Information regarding the dynamics of both surface and internal radiocesium contamination during food processing is required; however, such information for leafy vegetables is limited compared to other major agricultural products. In this study, the effect of washing on the removal of surface radiocesium contamination by resuspended materials and that of cooking (grilling, boiling, and microwave heating) on internal radiocesium contamination were investigated using komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), a leafy vegetable. The surface-contaminated samples were experimentally grown in a difficult-to-return area in Fukushima Prefecture, which has not yet been decontaminated. The internally contaminated komatsuna were obtained after experimental cultivation in a greenhouse with soil containing 137Cs and no surface contamination. The concentration of 137Cs in surface-contaminated komatsuna was reduced to approximately half (processing factor: 0.55) after washing with water. However, the annual processing factor ranged from 0.12 to 0.95, suggesting that the growing environment and climatic conditions may affect the removal rate of radiocesium by washing. Internal contamination of 137Cs was removed by 23% and 14% by boiling and grilling, respectively, but no effect was observed for microwaving. Moreover, the concentration of 137Cs decreased by 0.66-fold after boiling, while it increased by 1.19- and 1.20-fold after grilling and microwaving, respectively. Therefore, boiling was found to be preferable than grilling or microwaving for radiocesium removal.

The ratio of plant 137Cs to exchangeable 137Cs in soil is a crucial factor in explaining the variation in 137Cs transferability from soil to plant.

To mitigate radioactive cesium from soil to plant, increasing and maintaining the exchangeable potassium (ExK) level during growth is widely accepted after Tokyo Electric Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant accident in Japan. This is because the antagonistic relationship between soil solution K and 134Cs + 137Cs (RCs) concentrations changes the transfer factor (TF: designated as the ratio of radioactivity of plant organ to soil) of RCs. As the relationship between ExK and TF depends on the soil types, crop species, and other environmental factors, the required amount of ExK should be set to a safe side. Eleven years after the accident, as the activity of 134Cs was almost negligible, 137Cs became the main RCs in most of the agricultural fields in Fukushima Prefecture. We propose a new indicator, the concentration ratio of plant 137Cs to soil exchangeable 137Cs (Ex137Cs), instead of TF, which showed a better correlation with ExK even among soils with different properties (or mineralogy).

Autoregulation of nodulation interferes with impacts of nitrogen fertilization levels on the leaf-associated bacterial community in soybeans.

The diversities leaf-associated bacteria on nonnodulated (Nod(-)), wild-type nodulated (Nod(+)), and hypernodulated (Nod(++)) soybeans were evaluated by clone library analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. To analyze the impact of nitrogen fertilization on the bacterial leaf community, soybeans were treated with standard nitrogen (SN) (15 kg N ha(-1)) or heavy nitrogen (HN) (615 kg N ha(-1)) fertilization. Under SN fertilization, the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria was significantly higher in Nod(-) and Nod(++) soybeans (82% to 96%) than in Nod(+) soybeans (54%). The community structure of leaf-associated bacteria in Nod(+) soybeans was almost unaffected by the levels of nitrogen fertilization. However, differences were visible in Nod(-) and Nod(++) soybeans. HN fertilization drastically decreased the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria in Nod(-) and Nod(++) soybeans (46% to 76%) and, conversely, increased those of Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes in these mutant soybeans. In the Alphaproteobacteria, cluster analyses identified two operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (Aurantimonas sp. and Methylobacterium sp.) that were especially sensitive to nodulation phenotypes under SN fertilization and to nitrogen fertilization levels. Arbuscular mycorrhizal infection was not observed on the root tissues examined, presumably due to the rotation of paddy and upland fields. These results suggest that a subpopulation of leaf-associated bacteria in wild-type Nod(+) soybeans is controlled in similar ways through the systemic regulation of autoregulation of nodulation, which interferes with the impacts of N levels on the bacterial community of soybean leaves.

The genotype of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase gene (CCaMK) determines bacterial community diversity in rice roots under paddy and upland field conditions.

The effects of the Oryza sativa calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase OsCCaMK genotype (dominant homozygous [D], heterozygous [H], recessive homozygous [R]) on rice root-associated bacteria, including endophytes and epiphytes, were examined by using a Tos17 rice mutant line under paddy and upland field conditions. Roots were sampled at the flowering stage and were subjected to clone library analyses. The relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria was noticeably decreased in R plants under both paddy and upland conditions (0.8% and 3.0%, respectively) relative to those in D plants (10.3% and 17.4%, respectively). Population shifts of the Sphingomonadales and Rhizobiales were mainly responsible for this low abundance in R plants. The abundance of Anaerolineae (Chloroflexi) and Clostridia (Firmicutes) was increased in R plants under paddy conditions. The abundance of a subpopulation of Actinobacteria (Saccharothrix spp. and unclassified Actinosynnemataceae) was increased in R plants under upland conditions. Principal coordinate analysis revealed unidirectional community shifts in relation to OsCCaMK gene dosage under both conditions. In addition, shoot length, tiller number, and plant weight decreased as the OsCCaMK gene dosage decreased under upland conditions. These results suggest significant impacts of OsCCaMK on both the diversity of root-associated bacteria and rice plant growth under both paddy and upland field conditions.

Changes in saccharide, amino acid and S-methylmethionine content during malting of barley grown with different nitrogen and sulfur status.

BACKGROUND: Changes in saccharide, amino acid and S-methylmethionine (SMM) concentrations and enzyme activities during the malting of barley grown with different nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) supplementation were investigated in order to clarify their relationship with N and S fertiliser levels. RESULTS: Concentrations of N and S in barley grain were significantly increased by the addition of N to the culture soil. Application of N decreased the starch concentration in grain. On the other hand, higher N fertilisation increased the ß-glucan concentration in grain and malt, thus decreasing the accessibility of ß-glucanase to its substrates. Proteolytic enzyme activity was significantly higher in the absence (-N treatment) than in the presence (+N treatment) of N fertiliser, making the concentration of the majority of amino acids in malt slightly higher in the - N treatment. SMM was synthesised in grain after imbibition, and application of N increased the SMM content in malt. CONCLUSION: Although SMM can be controlled to a certain extent during kilning, a balanced supply of N and S during cultivation can also be helpful for the production of malt with lower SMM concentration. Adequate soil management is desirable to maintain the balance between good agronomic performance and high malt quality.

Comparative dynamics of potassium and radiocesium in soybean with different potassium application levels.

We conducted a field experiment in soybean with different levels of K application to elucidate the comparative dynamics of 137Cs and K. The inventory of K in the shoots increased substantially from the fifth trifoliate stage to the full seed stage, and as the absorption of K increased, so too did the absorption of 137Cs. Overall, the effect of K application was much greater in terms of 137Cs dynamics than K dynamics or biomass production. K application reduced not only the accumulation of 137Cs in the shoots, but also the distribution of 137Cs to the grains. However, the decrease of 137Cs distribution to the grain had a much smaller effect on 137Cs accumulation in the grains than 137Cs absorption. A positive correlation was also observed between the exchangeable 137Cs/K ratio in the soil and the 137Cs/K ratio in the shoots for each growth stage, and the 137Cs/K ratios in the shoots at the full seed and full maturity stage were much higher than those at the fifth trifoliate and full bloom stage under the same exchangeable 137Cs/K ratio in the soil. These findings suggest a decrease in the discrimination of 137Cs from K during absorption after the full bloom stage. As a result of this and the increase in soil-exchangeable 137Cs/K with growth, radiocesium was more transferable to the shoots after the full bloom stage. Overall, these results suggest that lowering the soil-exchangeable radiocesium/potassium ratio after the full bloom stage by increasing K availability could efficiently reduce the transfer of radiocesium to the grains.

Application of Finnish phlogopite to reduce radiocesium uptake by paddy rice.

Field and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of coarse Finnish phlogopite application to reduce radiocesium uptake by paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.). The application of phlogopite was expected to reduce radiocesium uptake by crops through K supply and radiocesium retention. Three fields were set in Fukushima Prefecture, and coarse (mean particle size of 450 µm) phlogopite from Siilinjärvi (Finland) was applied at a rate of 5 t ha-1. Paddy rice was cultivated for 2-4 successive years. In all fields, the average 137Cs transfer factor (TF) of brown rice harvested from plots with added phlogopite was significantly lower than that of brown rice from plots without added phlogopite over the 2-4-year experiments. TF was decreased by up to 80% following phlogopite application, without an adverse effect on yield. Exchangeable K and soil solution K were higher in the soils with added phlogopite, suggesting K released from phlogopite reduced 137Cs uptake by paddy rice. Moreover, in a pot cultivation experiment, even when 55% of the total K was removed from phlogopite prior to application, the TF in pots with phlogopite application was less than half of that in pots without added phlogopite. The results from the field study and the pot cultivation experiment suggested that the application of Finnish phlogopite is effective to reduce the TF of brown rice. Exchangeable K and tetraphenylborate-extractable-K (TPB-K) at rooting stage, and soil solution K at tillering and heading stages showed significant negative correlation with TF. TPB-K was significantly positively correlated with soil solution K at tillering stage and heading stage, whereas exchangeable K at rooting stage did not exhibit significant correlation with soil solution K at heading stage. The results suggest that TPB-K is more reliable than exchangeable K, which could facilitate as a basis of K fertilizer recommendation for radiocesium-contaminated fields.

Large-scale agricultural soil and food sampling and radioactivity analysis during nuclear emergencies in Japan: Development of technical and organisational procedures for soil and food sampling after the accident.

Most available measurement methods and protocols for radioactive materials are focused on the use of high-precision sampling and analysis and do not consider the practicality of these techniques in the case of large-scale emergencies involving high numbers of samples and measurements. The experience gained after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident has demonstrated a need for optimization of sampling and measurement programmes in the case of nuclear emergency that affects food and agriculture. Under these conditions, resources for implementation of monitoring and allocations for sampling and measurements might be limited, and urgent information is needed for effective emergency response. This paper supplies a historical overview of sampling and analytical techniques for assessment of radionuclides in the agricultural environments and foodstuffs and is intended for use in research, policy and decision-making in nuclear emergency preparedness and response, particularly with respect to large scale accidents.

Large-scale sampling and radioactivity analysis of agricultural soil and food during nuclear emergencies in Japan: Variations over time in foodstuffs inspection and sampling.

The measurement of radioactivity in food and agricultural ecosystems is an essential task for keeping the population safe after a nuclear emergency. Prior to the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011, the probability of such an accident, combining complex effects of natural and technical factors, was not reflected in detail in national emergency preparedness guidelines. The lack of such guidelines resulted in a limited efficiency response to the Fukushima accident in agriculture. This outcome showed a need for the preparation of such guidelines as a part of emergency preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergences. This paper provides information and generic, non-country-specific guidance on approaches to sampling food. The paper is intended for scientists, policy makers and decision makers involved in nuclear emergency preparedness and responses, particularly on large scales and at different stages of nuclear emergency based on lessons learned from the FDNPP accident.

Dynamics of radionuclide activity concentrations in weed leaves, crops and of air dose rate after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Data on reduction of radioactivity in plants are highly important for making decision on emergency response and remediation of contaminated areas. Dynamics of the 131I and 137Cs concentrations in the weed leaves sampled in the areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in Japan was assessed for the period March-December 2011. The effective half-lives for 131I and 137Cs of 3.8-4.2 days and 7.1-13.3 days in the weed leaves were calculated for the first two months after the deposition. The approach for assessment of the aggregated transfer factors based on the ambient dose equivalent rate was suggested and validated. The geometric means of the soil to the weed leaves aggregated transfer factors were estimated for June-December 2011. Soil to crop 137Cs- concentration ratios (buckwheat, brown rice and soybean) were estimated for 2011-2016. Soil to crop concentration ratios were found to decrease in the order of soybean > buckwheat > brown rice. The effective half-lives for 137Cs in these crops were estimated to be between 1 and 2.5 years for the period 2011 2016, and longer than 5-7 years after 2016. It was found that these data comply with the Chernobyl related data obtained for similar conditions and complement of international documents on radionuclide transfer in agricultural environment such as the IAEA TRS 472.