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Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation, water deficit, and their combination on UV-absorbing compounds and osmotic adjustment substances in two different moss species

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Abstract

A simulation experiment was conducted to explore the influence of enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, water deficit, and their combination on UV-absorbing compounds and osmotic adjustment substances of mosses Bryum argenteum and Didymodon vinealis isolated from biological soil crusts (BSCs) growing in a revegetated area of the Tengger Desert, China. Four levels of UV-B radiation and two gradients of water regime were employed. Compared with their controls, amounts of total flavonoids, chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins significantly decreased (p < 0.05), but proline content significantly increased (p < 0.05), when exposed to either enhanced UV-B or water deficit. The negative effects of enhanced UV-B were alleviated when water deficit was applied. There were increases in UV-absorbing compounds and osmotic adjustment substances when exposed to a combination of enhanced UV-B and water deficit compared with single stresses, except for the proline content in D. vinealis. In addition, our results also indicated interspecific differences in response to enhanced UV-B, water deficit, and their combination. Compared with B. argenteum, D. vinealis was more resistant to enhanced UV-B and water deficit singly and in combination. These results suggest that the damage of enhanced UV-B on both species might be alleviated by water deficit. This alleviation is important for understanding the response of BSCs to UV-B radiation in future global climate change. This also provides novel insights into assessment damages of UV-B to BSC stability in arid and semiarid regions.

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Abbreviations

BSCs:

Biological soil crusts

N:

Nitrogen

UV-B:

Ultraviolet-B

Car:

Carotenoid

Chl:

Chlorophyll

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41621001, 41530746, and 41701104) and by the West Light Program for Talent Cultivation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Road 320, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People’s Republic of China

    Rong Hui, Guang Song, Yang Zhao & Yanli Wang

  2. School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Tianshui South Road 222, 730000, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Ruiming Zhao

  3. College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 10866, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China

    Yixuan Li

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  1. Rong Hui
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  2. Ruiming Zhao
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  3. Guang Song
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  4. Yixuan Li
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  5. Yang Zhao
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  6. Yanli Wang
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Correspondence to Rong Hui.

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Hui, R., Zhao, R., Song, G. et al. Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation, water deficit, and their combination on UV-absorbing compounds and osmotic adjustment substances in two different moss species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 14953–14963 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1689-8

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