Growth and development responses to UV-B exclusion in crops

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Key Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150081, China.

2 Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA.

3 Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA

Abstract

UV-B radiation affects crop plants. Growing interest has been shown in studying the effects
of UV-B radiation exclusion on crops since 1993. This article summarized the general
consequences of UV-B radiation exclusion on crop plants from the aspacts of plant morphology,
growth and development. UV-B exlusion has promoting effects on plant height, internode
and leaf size. UV-B exclusion increases root biomass and stimulates nodulation of legume
crops with increased number and size of nodules and enhances the leghemoglobin. Higher
levels of α-tocopherol is found in UV-B plants, which plays an important role in translocating
photoassimilates from the leaves to the roots. UV-B exclusion could be a useful tool for
physiologists and molecular biologists to further address mechanisms involved in UV-B
radiation damage in crop plants.


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