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Response of photosynthesis to high light and drought for Arabidopsis thaliana grown under a UV-B enhanced light regime

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Abstract

Arabidopsis thaliana grown in a light regime that included ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation (6 kJ m−2 d−1) had similar light-saturated photosynthetic rates but up to 50% lower stomatal conductance rates, as compared to plants grown without UV-B radiation. Growth responses of Arabidopsis to UV-B radiation included lower leaf area (25%) and biomass (10%) and higher UV-B absorbing compounds (30%) and chlorophyll content (52%). Lower stomatal conductance rates for plants grown with UV-B radiation were, in part, due to lower stomatal density on the adaxial surface. Plants grown with UV-B radiation had more capacity to down regulate photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) as shown by up to 25% lower φPSII and 30% higher non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence under saturating light. These contributed to a smaller reduction in the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v/F m), greater dark-recovery of F v/F m, and higher light-saturated carbon assimilation and stomatal conductance and transpiration rates after a four-hour high light treatment for plants grown with UV-B radiation. Plants grown with UV-B were more tolerant to a 12 day drought treatment than plants grown without UV-B as indicated by two times higher photosynthetic rates and 12% higher relative water content. UV-B-grown plants also had three times higher proline content. Higher tolerance to drought stress for Arabidopsis plants grown under UV-B radiation may be attributed to both increased proline content and decreased stomatal conductance. Growth of Arabidopsis in a UV-B-enhanced light regime increased tolerance to high light exposure and drought stress.

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Abbreviations

φPSII :

Quantum efficiency of Photosystem II

ABA:

Abscisic acid

A CO2 :

Net photosynthetic carbon assimilation rate

C a :

Ambient partial pressure of CO2

C i :

Internal ambient partial pressure of CO2

E :

Transpiration

F v/F m :

Maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II

g s :

Stomatal conductance to water vapor

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

PSII:

Photosystem II

Rubisco:

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

RWC:

Relative water content

UV-B:

Ultraviolet-B radiation

VPD:

Vapor pressure deficit

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Andrew J. McNeil for providing expertise on instrumentation and to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. This work was partially supported by the Faculty Research Grant Fund of Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA, 98926-7537, USA

    Mary E. Poulson & Raymon A. Donahue

  2. Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, C. Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP 81530-990, Brasil

    Maria Regina Torres Boeger

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  1. Mary E. Poulson
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Correspondence to Mary E. Poulson.

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Poulson, M.E., Boeger, M.R.T. & Donahue, R.A. Response of photosynthesis to high light and drought for Arabidopsis thaliana grown under a UV-B enhanced light regime. Photosynth Res 90, 79–90 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-006-9116-2

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