Responses to UV-B radiation in Trifolium repens L. - physiological links to plant productivity and water availability
2003
Hofmann, R.W. | Campbell, B.D. | Bloor, S.J. | Swinny, E.E. | Markham, K.R. | Ryan, K.G. | Fountain, D.W.
This study used comparisons across nine populations of Trifolium repens (white clover) in conjunction with drought to examine physiological responses to ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B). Plants were exposed for 12 weeks to supplementation with 13.3 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ UV-B, accompanied by 4 weeks of drought under controlled environmental conditions. UV-B increased the levels of UV-B-absorbing compounds and of flavonol glycosides and this effect was synergistically enhanced by water stress. These changes were more pronounced for the ortho-dihydroxylated quercetin, rather than the monohydroxylated kaempferol glycosides. UV-B increased leaf water potential (psiL) by 16% under drought and proline levels by 23% under well-watered conditions. The intraspecific comparisons showed that higher UV-B-induced levels of UV-B-absorbing compounds, of quercetin glycosides and of psiL were linked to lower plant productivity and to higher UV-B tolerance under well-watered conditions. These findings suggest that: (1) slow-growing T. repens ecotypes adapted to other stresses have higher capacity for physiological acclimation to UV-B; and (2) that these attributes also contribute to decreased UV-B sensitivity under drought.
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