Morphological and metabolic alterations in duckweed ( Spirodela polyrhiza) on long-term low-level chronic UV-B exposure

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2005-11, Vol.62 (3), p.408-414
• Main Authors: Farooq, M., Shankar, U., Ray, R.S., Misra, R.B., Agrawal, N., Verma, K., Hans, R.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystem; aquatic plants; Araceae - growth & development; Araceae - metabolism; Araceae - radiation effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Duckweed; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Long-term exposure; metabolism; Morphological and metabolic alteration; Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics; Phototoxicity; Pigments, Biological - metabolism; plant growth; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - radiation effects; plant morphology; Plant productivity; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - radiation effects; solar radiation; Spirodela polyrhiza; Starch - metabolism; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects; UV-B radiation
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.01.011

Laboratory grown duckweed ( Spirodela polyrhiza) plants were exposed to 0.72 and 1.44 J of UV-B radiation daily for 7 days at 0.4 mW/cm 2 intensity. Chlorosis and necrosis were observed along with depletion in protein, pigments (chlorophyll, pheophytin, carotenoids, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and flavoxanthin), biomass, root length, and frond size in UV-B-exposed plants. The study confirms morphological and metabolic alterations leading to reduction in the productivity of duckweed following long-term exposure to UV-B radiation.