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Phenols, proline and low-molecular thiol levels in pea (Pisum sativum) plants respond differently toward prolonged exposure to ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-C radiations

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Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings were exposed to low, moderate, and high regimes of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) (ld-B 4.4, md-B 13.3, and hd-B 26.5 kJ m−2 day−1), or ultraviolet-C (UV-C) (ld-C 0.1, md-C 0.3, and hd-C 0.6 kJ m−2 day−1) radiations. Concentrations of total phenols, free proline, and low-molecular thiol groups were determined in the last formed (young) and older leaves after irradiation for 7, 10 or 14 consecutive days. Shoot length and weight did not change markedly after 14 days of ld-B and ld-C, but reduced substantially after moderate and high regimes of both UV-B and UV-C. Proline decreased upon high doses of irradiation, while in ld-B treated plants, by contrast, an increase was observed. The reduction in total phenols and thiols was stronger after hd-B than after hd-C irradiations, although an induction was found in ld-B treated plants. In contrast to ld-B, ld-C regime led mainly to reductions or insignificant changes in proline, phenols, and thiols. Therefore, the stress-protection mechanisms are different between low UV-B and UV-C irradiation regimes in regard to proline, phenols, and thiols.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. I. Vaseva and Prof. M. A. Hall for valuable comments and remarks. The encouragement received from Academician E. Karanov is much appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, BAS, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Zornitsa Katerova & Vera Alexieva

  2. Centre of Food Biology, PO Box 120, 1592, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Sergei Ivanov

  3. Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Sergio Mapelli

Authors
  1. Zornitsa Katerova
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  2. Sergei Ivanov
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  3. Sergio Mapelli
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  4. Vera Alexieva
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Correspondence to Zornitsa Katerova.

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Communicated by G. Bartosz.

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Katerova, Z., Ivanov, S., Mapelli, S. et al. Phenols, proline and low-molecular thiol levels in pea (Pisum sativum) plants respond differently toward prolonged exposure to ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-C radiations. Acta Physiol Plant 31, 111–117 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0208-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0208-9

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