Comparative responses of microscopic fungi to ionizing radiation and light.

Microscopic fungi of 47 species and 24 genera isolated from radioactive soil and other radioactive substrates of a 10-km alienation zone from Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant were investigated. Only 19 % of such fungi showed toward the ionizing irradiation source positive radiotropism. Strains with best-defended radiotropism responded to the influence of weak white light. Both of these responses (radiotropism and photostimulation) were of an adaptive nature, were found in both dark-colored and light-colored micromycetes and were probably a strain-related feature.