Supplemental UV-A Research Articles

Effects of supplemental light quality on growth and phytochemicals of baby leaf lettuce

Using UV-A, blue (B), green (G), red (R), and far-red (FR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs), we investigated the effects of different supplemental light qualities on phytochemicals and growth of ‘Red Cross’ baby leaf lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) grown at a high planting density under white fluorescent lamps as the main light source inside a growth chamber. Photon flux added by supplemental LEDs for UV-A, B, G, R and FR were 18, 130, 130, 130 and 160 μmol m −2 s −1, respectively. Photosynthetic photon flux (PPF, 400–700 nm), photoperiod, and air temperature (day/night) was 300 μmol m −2 s −1, 16 h, and 25 °C/20 °C in all treatments including white light control. After 12 days of light quality treatment (22 days after germination), phytochemical concentration and growth of lettuce plants were significant affected by light treatments. Anthocyanins concentration increased by 11% and 31% with supplemental UV-A and B, respectively, carotenoids concentration increased by 12% with supplemental B, phenolics concentration increased by 6% with supplemental R while supplemental FR decreased anthocyanins, carotenoids and chlorophyll concentration by 40%, 11% and 14%, respectively, compared to those in the white light control. The fresh weight, dry weight, stem length, leaf length and leaf width significantly increased by 28%, 15%, 14%, 44% and 15%, respectively, with supplemental FR light compare to white light, presumably due to enhanced light interception by enlarged leaf area under supplemental FR light. Although the mechanisms of changes in phytochemicals under different supplemental light quality are not well known, the results demonstrated that supplemental light quality could be strategically used to enhance nutritional value and growth of baby leaf lettuce grown under white light.

PAR and UVBR effects on photosynthesis, viability, growth and DNA in different life stages of coexisting Gigartinales: implications for recruitment and zonation pattern

The effects that ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280 to 400 nm) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400 to 700 nm) had on early life stages of Mastocarpus stellatus and Chondrus crispus were studied to determine if differences in UVR tolerance could influence their recruitment success on the upper eulittoral shores of Helgoland (North Sea). Photosynthesis, germination capacity, DNA damage and carpospore repair were measured after exposures to different time lengths and intensi- ties of PAR+UV-A+ UV-B, PAR + UV-A or PAR alone, and also after recovery in low white light. Ger- mination and photosynthesis of the low light adapted carpospores of both species were inhibited as PAR was increased. Supplemental UV-A and UV-B had a small additional effect on the Fv/Fm of M. stellatus but this effect was more pronounced in C. crispus. However, photosynthesis of both species significantly recovered after 48 h. Carpospore viability in C. crispus was more sensitive than in M. stellatus to UVR, while a higher dose was needed to achieve 50% germination inhibition in M. stel- latus. Furthermore, UV-B-induced DNA damage, measured as cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), was less in M. stellatus spores, which also exhibited an efficient DNA repair mechanism com- pared with C. crispus. In contrast, growth and chlorophyll a contents in young gametophytes of both species were not affected by repeated UV exposures. Higher total carotenoid was measured in plants exposed to UVR, indicating a photoprotection role, because photosynthesis completely acclimated to UVR after 3 d. Furthermore, DNA damage was not detected on mature fronds of both species when exposed to the full solar spectrum. Therefore, the susceptibility of carpospores to UVR could influ- ence species recruitment to the upper eulittoral zone.

Response of three eastern tree species to supplemental UV-B radiation: leaf chemistry and gas exchange

Quantitative changes in foliar chemistry in response to UV-B radiation are frequently reported but less is known about the qualitative changes in putative UV-screening compounds. It has also not been conclusively shown whether qualitative differences in screening compounds or differences in localization patterns influence the sensitivity of plants to damage from UV-B radiation and there is some question as to whether differences in the amounts of soluble screening compounds correlate with physiological sensitivity to UV-B radiation. This study represents the first part of a multiple-year study designed to answer the above questions. In this study we evaluated whether differences in soluble UV-screening compounds were linked with possible effects on gas exchange and photosynthetic carbon assimilation. Branches of mature trees of sweet gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua), tulip poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera) and red maple ( Acer rubrum) were exposed to supplemental levels of UV-B radiation over three growing seasons. Controls for UV-A were also measured by exposing branches to supplemental UV-A only and additional branches not irradiated were also used for controls. These species demonstrated differing levels of screening compounds with poplar being the most responsive in terms of epidermal accumulation of phenolics. These were separately identified as flavonols, chlorogenic acid and hydroxycinnamates (HCAs). Red maple had the highest levels of constitutive UV-absorbing compounds but these showed little response to supplemental UV-B radiation. Leaf area was marginally influenced by UV exposure level with both UV-A and UV-B tending to reduce leaf area in red maple and poplar and increase it in sweet gum, when averaged over the 3-year period. Assimilation was generally not reduced by UV-B radiation in these species and was enhanced in red maple by both UV-B and UV-A and by UV-A in sweet gum. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis that epidermal attenuation of UV-B would only be reduced in poplar, which accumulated the additional epidermal screening compounds. It is possible that photosynthetic efficiency was enhanced in red maple by the increased absorption of blue light within the mesophyll due to elevated levels of HCAs. Stomatal conductance was generally reduced and this led to an increase in water use efficiency (WUE) in red maple and poplar. Since few detrimental effects of supplemental UV-B were observed, these results suggest that these tree species utilized a range of UV-screening compounds and deposition patterns to achieve UV-B tolerance and further, that subtle responses to UV-B could have ecological significance in the absence of reduced productivity or photosynthetic efficiency.

Assessment of oxidative stress in the planktonic diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana in response to UVA and UVB radiation

Induction of oxidative stress by UVA and UVB in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana was experimentally studied. Cells, pre-grown in a light-limited continuous culture, were incubated for 4 h at 175 µmol m-2s-1photosynthetically active radiation, with optional supplementary UVA at an unweighted dose rate of 0.70 W m-2, or 2.79 W m-2UVA plus 0.45 W m-2UVB (unweighted). A fluorescence-based measure of photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) decreased from 0.69 to 0.58 in the presence of UVB, whereas UVA caused a minor decrease of Fv/Fm. Quantitative analysis of confocal images showed a minor increase of active oxygen production associated with supplemental UVA alone, and a 100% increase with additional UVB. Cellular malondialdehyde, an indicator of lipid peroxidation by active oxygen, almost doubled under UVA and increased three-fold with additional UVB. Activities of superoxide dismutase (scavenging active oxygen) and glutathione reductase (reducing GSSG to GSH) increased in response to UVB exposure, whereas ascorbate peroxidase activities did not. UVB caused a minor decrease in the glutathione ratio GSH : (GSH + 0.5GSSG), which indicates a moderate oxidative stress.

UV-induced changes in pigment content and light penetration in the fruticose lichen Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis

The response of the lichen, Cladonia arbuscula (Wallr.) Flot. ssp. mitis (Sandst.) Ruoss to enhanced UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation was investigated with respect to: (a) changes in phenolic content; (b) differential pigment accumulation under visible and UV radiation with increasing distance from thallus apices; and (c) the internal distribution of UV-B radiation within the thallus measured with quartz optical fibres. In a short-term experiment, lichens were exposed for 7 days in a growth chamber to visible light with or without additional UV-B radiation. For a longer term experiment, lichens were grown outdoors under both natural UV radiation, and supplemental UV-A (315–400 nm)+UV-B provided by lamps. Controls were placed under filters that removed the radiation below 290 nm from the natural sunlight. The concentration of total phenolic compounds was measured spectrophotometrically at the termination of the experiments, in different parts of the lichen podetia. UV-exposed lichens showed increased accumulation of phenolics compared to those not grown under UV. At the termination of the long-term experiment, fibre optic measurements of the penetration of radiation into lichen thallus reflected the influence of growth under UV radiation, whereby UV was more strongly attenuated as compared to that in lichens not exposed to enhanced levels of UV-B radiation. Results indicated that in Cladonia, UV-B radiation induces the accumulation of phenolic compounds that may have a protective role. In addition, the morphological distribution of phenolic compounds was different under visible and supplemental UV-B radiation. Internal radiation measurements served to visualise the attenuation of radiation with thallus depth for different wavelengths in the UV-B waveband.

Usnic Acid and Atranorin Concentrations in Lichens in Relation to Bands of UV Irradiance

Using spectral filters, Cladonia uncialis and Cladina rangiferina were exposed for seven days to visible light supplemented with two intensities of three different bands of ultraviolet in a growth chamber. The concentrations of lichen secondary products separated by thin-layer chromatography were then determined densitometrically. In Cladonia uncialis, higher intensity exposure to visible light enhanced with UV-A, while UV-B and UV-C were excluded, significantly increased usnic acid concentrations over control levels. However, less usnic acid accumulated under high intensity enhancement of both UV-A and UV-B. The effect of supplemental UV-A and UV-B was the same on atranorin concentrations in Cladina rangiferina. This suggested that UV-A caused increased accumulation of both compounds, but that the effect was negated by UV-B. Concentrations of usnic acid in natural populations of Cladina mitis were significantly lower in spring and summer when UV-B flux is greatest.

人工光下でのＵＶ‐Ａ付加照射がレタスとハツカダイコンの成長と葉の苦味に与える影響

In order to know the effect of supplemental UV-A irradiation on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Okayama) and radish (Raphanus sativus L, cv. Comet), these plants were grown under artificial irradiation with 3-band fluorescent lamps and additional UV-A lamps. The UV-A irradiation promoted shoot growth of both plants, and reduced the bitter taste intensity of mature lettuce leaves. However, the UV-A effects varied with stage of vegetative development. Moreover, there was no significant effect of the UV-A on the hypocotyl growth of radish plants.

Morphological and physiological responses of bean plants to supplemental UV radiation in a Mediterranean climate

During the last few decades many experiments have been performed to evaluate the responses of plants to enhanced solar UV-B radiation (280–320 run) that may occur because of stratospheric ozone depletion; most of them were performed in controlled environment conditions where plants were exposed to low photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) levels and high UV-B irradiance. Since environmental radiative regimes can play a role in the response of plants to UV-B enhancement, it appears doubtful whether it is valid to extrapolate the results from these experiments to plants grown in natural conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects on physiology and morphology of a bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Nano Bobis, exposed to supplemental UV radiation in the open-air. UV-B radiation was supplied by fluorescent lamps to simulate a 20% stratospheric ozone reduction. Three groups of plants were grown: control (no supplemental UV), UV-A treatment (supplementation in the UV-A band) and UV-B treatment (supplemental UV-B and UV-A radiation). Each group was replicated three times. After 33 days of treatment plants grown under UV-B treatment had lower biomass, leaf area and reduced leaf elongation compared to UV-A treatment. No significant differences were detected in photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigments and UV-B absorbing compounds among the three groups of plants. However, plants exposed to UV-A treatment showed a sort of’ stimulation’ of their growth when compared to the control. The results of this experiment showed that plants may be sensitive to UV-A radiation, thus it is difficult to evaluate the specific effects of UV-B (280–320 nm) radiation from fluorescent lamps and it is important to choose the appropriate control. Environmental conditions strongly affect plant response to UV radiation so further field studies are necessary to assess the interaction between UV-B exposure and meteorological variability.