Influence of Ambient UV Radiation on Growth and Flavonoid Concentration of `New Red Fire' Lettuce

Abstract

The influence of ambient UV radiation on growth and flavonoid concentration of Lactuca sativa L. (`New Red Fire' lettuce) was examined. Plants were grown outdoors for 31 days from seed in window boxes covered with one of three different UV filters—UV transparent tefzel (10%T, 245 nm), UV-B-absorbing polyester (10%T, 319 nm), or UV-Aand UV-B-absorbing Llumar (10%T, 399 nm). Plants were grown in plastic pots filled with vermiculite and subirrigated with nutrient solution. Lettuce plants grown in the absence of solar UV-A and UV-B radiation showed a significant increase in leaf number and biomass of tops and roots as compared to those grown under ambient UV-A and UV-B. They also had a lower concentration of flavonoids and other UV-absorbing substances at 270, 300, and 330 nm (on both an area and on a dry-weight basis). These findings should be of interest to researchers involved in protected cultivation because the transmission of UV-B radiation is greatly attenuated by standard greenhouse glass. Our results also have implications for human nutrition, since bioflavonoids are important as antioxidants.