Summary
Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) nuclear accidents created unprecedented, large-scale experiments in environmental radiobiology, resulting in vast Exclusion Zones. While early research focused on radiation-induced damage and ecosystem degradation, a paradigm shift is underway, viewing these landscapes as natural laboratories to study real-time evolutionary processes. This review synthesizes and critically evaluates the growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic exposure to ionizing radiation has acted as a powerful selective pressure, driving adaptive responses in plant populations. We first outline the molecular and physiological mechanisms of radiation stress in plants, from DNA damage to oxidative stress, setting the stage for understanding potential targets for natural selec
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