The response of pea plants to ultraviolet B radiation and cytokinin

Abstract

Aim. The effect of chronic ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation and cytokinin benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) on the growth, content of photosynthetic pigments and hydrogen peroxide (HP) in leaves of pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) was studied. Methods. Pea plants cultivar Gotivsky were irradiated by chronic UV-B at a dose of 3.5 kJ/m2 per day during 5 days. Groups of the irradiated and non-irradiated plants were treated with 6-BAP after the end of the UV-B radiation. Length of shoots and roots of pea plants were measured during all time of experiment. Content of photosynthetic pigments and HP in leaves were determined during the experiment. Results. It was shown that plant growth delayed, content of photosynthetic pigments reduced, content of HP increased in the leaves after the chronic UV-B radiation of pea plants. The content of pigments increased and content of HP stabilized in pea leaves after the treatment of plants with 6-BAP. Conclusions. It was shown that chronic UV-B radiation of pea plants by dose of 3.5 kJ/m2 per day caused inhibition of plants growth, increasing HP content, decreasing photosynthetic pigments content in mature leaves. The BAP treatment of irradiated plants stimulated the restoration of photosynthetic pigments content in leaves.