Effects of UV-B radiation on cuticle thickness and nutritional value of leaves in two mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls

Seedlings of Laurus nobilis L. and Ceratonia siliqua L., grown for 1 year in the field under ambient radiation conditions were subsequendy allowed to produce their new spring growth in a glasshouse in the absence or presence of UV-B radiation. The UV-B radiation dose was biologically equivalent to t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant physiology 1998, Vol.153 (3), p.506-512
Main Authors: Grammatikopoulos, George, Kyparissis, Aris, Drilias, Periklis, Petropoulou, Yiola, Manetas, Yiannis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Ceratonia siliqua
cuticle
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Laurus nobilis
Mediterranean
nitrogen
nutritional quality
Physical agents
Plant physiology and development
UV-B
Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence
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Summary:Seedlings of Laurus nobilis L. and Ceratonia siliqua L., grown for 1 year in the field under ambient radiation conditions were subsequendy allowed to produce their new spring growth in a glasshouse in the absence or presence of UV-B radiation. The UV-B radiation dose was biologically equivalent to that which would have being received by the plants in their natural environment. Plant height, number of leaves, total and mean leaf area, the biomass allocated to both above and below ground parts, photochemical efficiency of PS II and chlorophyll content were not affected. However, UV-B radiation resulted in slighdy thicker leaves in L. nobilis and considerably thicker cuticles in both plants. UV-B absorbing compounds were increased only in L. nobilis. In addition, the leaf nutritional quality of this plant was considerably reduced by UV-B radiation, since phenolics and tannins were increased but nitrogen was decreased. No such changes were observed in C. siliqua. We may conclude that L. nobilis and C. siliqua are not only resistant against UV-B radiation damage, but the observed changes may benefit the plants through their anti-transpirant and anti-herbivore functions.
ISSN:0176-1617
1618-1328
DOI:10.1016/S0176-1617(98)80181-8