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Some effects of enhanced UV-B irradiation on the growth and composition of plants

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Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare), corn (Zea mays), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and radish (Raphanus sativus) seedlings were continuously irradiated under a lighting device for 5–10 d at an increased ultraviolet (UV)-B fluence rate. In their growth parameters, composition, and leaf surface, these four species responded differently to the increased UV-B exposure. Bean seedlings suffered the most serious effects, radish and barley less, and corn was hardly influenced at all. In all plant species, the fresh weight, the leaf area, the amounts of chlorophylls, carotenoids and the galactolipids of the chloroplasts were reduced. The lipid content of the corn and bean seedlings also diminished. But all the irradiated plants showed a rise in their protein content compared to the control plants. The content of flavonoids increased in barley and radish seedlings by about 50%. The effects on growth parameters and composition were more extensive with increasing UV-B fluence rates, at least as shown in the case of barley seedlings. The fresh weights fell proportionally with the chlorophylls and carotenoids. In contrast, the flavonoid content of barley leaves rose parallel to the increasing UV-B fluence rates and reached 180% of the value in the control plants with the highest UV-B fluence rate. Scorching appeared regularly in the form of bronze leaf discoloration at the highest UV-B fluence rates. Scanning electron micrographs of the leaf surface of UV-B irradiated plants showed deformed epidermal structures.

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Abbreviations

MGDG:

monogalactosyldiglyceride

DGDG:

digalactosyldiglyceride

SL:

sulfoquinovosyldiglyceride

PG:

phosphatidylglycerol

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

LA:

leaf are

FW:

fresh weight

DW:

dry weight

SEM:

scanning electron microscopy

C:

total carotenoids

Chl:

total chlorophyll

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  1. Botanisches Institut II der Universität Karlsruhe, Kaiserstraße 12, D-7500, Karlsruhe, Federal Republic of Germany

    Manfred Tevini, Wolfgang Iwanzik & Ulrich Thoma

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  1. Manfred Tevini
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  2. Wolfgang Iwanzik
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  3. Ulrich Thoma
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Tevini, M., Iwanzik, W. & Thoma, U. Some effects of enhanced UV-B irradiation on the growth and composition of plants. Planta 153, 388–394 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384258

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384258

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