Effects of natural solar UV-B radiation on three Arabidopsis accessions are strongly affected by seasonal weather conditions
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Accepted Version
Date
2018-06-18
Authors
Coffey, Aoife M.
Jansen, Marcel A. K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Masson SAS
Published Version
Abstract
Large numbers of studies have reported on the responses of plants that are exposed to a specific dose of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. However, in the natural environment UV-B is a highly dynamic variable with UV-B intensities depending on, amongst others, geographic, temporal, weather and climatic factors. Furthermore, UV-B effects on plants can potentially be modulated by other environmental variables, and vice versa. This study aimed to characterize UV-B effects on plant morphology and accumulation of UV-screening pigments within the context of an oceanic climate and to assess the potential seasonality of plant UV-B responses. Arabidopsis thaliana was grown outdoors under UV-blocking or transmitting filters. Genotypic differences in the adaptive response to UV-B were assessed at seven time-points over a 12 month period and involved the Arabidopsis accessions Ler, Col-0, and Bur-0. Strong seasonal effects were found on rosette morphology and total UV-screening pigment concentrations across the three accessions. Low temperatures were the main determinant of accumulation of UV-absorbing pigments, with no clear UV-B effect observed at any time throughout the year. There was a significant UV effect on morphology during the summer months, and this was most likely associated with stress. This study shows that UV-effects need to be analysed in the context of weather, and other co-occurring natural factors, and emphasizes the importance of a holistic, multifactorial approach for the investigation of environmentally relevant UV-effects.
Description
Keywords
Arabidopsis , Morphology , Photosynthesis , Ultraviolet radiation , UV-Screening pigments , Weather
Citation
Coffey, A. and Jansen, M. A. K. (2018) 'Effects of natural solar UV-B radiation on three Arabidopsis accessions are strongly affected by seasonal weather conditions', Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.06.016