UV-B对不同发育时期离体蓝莓主要果实品质及相关酶活性的影响

该研究以幼果期、白果期、转色期的离体‘北陆’蓝莓果实为试材,设置0(CK)、5、10、15min紫外光辐照处理,24h后取样分析蓝莓果实中可溶性糖、总酚、类黄酮和花青苷含量,以及苯丙氨酸裂解酶(PAL)和查尔酮异构酶(CHI)活性的变化,探究UV-B紫外照射处理对不同发育时期蓝莓主要果实品质及相关酶活的影响。结果显示:(1)对于幼果期蓝莓,5min UV-B处理可显著增加果实内可溶性糖含量;10min UV-B处理果实PAL活性增加效果最为显著;15min UV-B处理对果实总酚和花青苷积累的促进作用最大,但显著降低了类黄酮含量和CHI活性。(2)对于白果期蓝莓,5min UV-B处理显著增加了果实类黄酮含量和CHI活性,10min处理使果实可溶性糖和总酚含量较对照分别增加25%和18%;15min处理对果实花青苷含量和PAL活性影响作用最大。(3)对于转色期蓝莓,各处理除果实可溶性糖及类黄酮含量降低外,其余物质含量均显著增加。(4)UV-B处理并未改变果实发育过程中可溶性糖、总酚、类黄酮和花青苷含量及PAL、CHI酶活性的积累规律。(5)蓝莓果内PAL活性与其可溶性糖、总酚和类黄酮的积累呈极显著正相关关系,而CHI活性仅与其可溶性糖呈极显著正相关。研究表明,UV-B辐照处理促进了幼果期和白果期可溶性糖的积累,也能促进不同发育时期蓝莓果实总酚和花青苷及白果期类黄酮的积累,对蓝莓果实主要品质能够产生积极的影响。     

模拟UV-B辐射增强条件下灯盏花居群的生理差异及其遗传背景

在温室条件下,研究了模拟UV-B辐射（280～320 nm）增强对6个灯盏花居群的类黄酮、丙二醛(MDA)含量和抗氧化酶活性的影响及其种内差异,并利用ISSR分子标记技术对灯盏花居群进行遗传背景分析.结果表明：在UV-B辐射增强条件下,灯盏花D01、D53、D63和D65居群在成苗期、盛花期和成熟期的类黄酮含量均显著增加,成苗期与盛花期MDA含量显著降低;而D47和D48居群3个生育期的MDA含量和盛花期类黄酮含量均显著增加,成熟期显著降低.D01居群3个生育期的POD、APX活性,成苗期、盛花期CAT活性与盛花期SOD活性均显著升高;D47居群3个生育期的SOD、CAT和APX活性,成熟期POD活性显著下降;D48居群3个生育期的POD、APX活性,成苗期、成熟期的SOD活性均显著下降;D53居群成苗期和盛花期SOD、APX活性,盛花期CAT活性显著增加;D63居群3个生育期的SOD、POD和APX活性均显著上升;D65居群除成熟期的CAT和APX活性没有显著变化外,3个生育期的4种抗氧化酶活性均显著上升.灯盏花居群对UV B辐射增强的响应有明显的种内差异,D01、D53、D63和D65为UV耐性居群,而D47和D48居群的UV敏感性较高.灯盏花居群不同生育期对UV-B辐射的响应为盛花期>成苗期>成熟期.居群间的遗传多样性差异明显,在遗传距离为0.11的水平上,可将D01、D53、D63和D65居群归为一类,D47和D48居群为另一类,这与根据生理响应指数判断的UV耐性与敏感居群的结果基本一致.     

增强UV-B辐射和氮对谷子叶光合色素及非酶促保护物质的影响

以谷子(Setaria italica(L)Beauv.)为对象,从拔节期开始持续给予低氮(1.875 mmol/L)和高氮(15 mmol/L)两种氮供应条件并从抽穗期开始进行26 d两种强度(4.29、7.12 kJ·m-2·d-1)的增强UV-B辐射处理,研究了谷子叶中光合色素含量、类黄酮含量和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性的变化.结果表明:与高氮供应条件相比,低氮供应条件明显降低了谷子叶中光合色素含量但提高了类胡萝卜素/叶绿素含量比值;在开花期中段和灌浆期中段,高氮供应条件下谷子叶中光合色素含量对增强UV-B辐射比低氮供应条件下的谷子更敏感.从灌浆期开始到处理结束,两种影响因子对谷子叶中类黄酮含量均有显著影响,增强UV-B辐射导致谷子叶中类黄酮含量逐渐升高,且相同增强UV-B辐射强度下低氮供应条件下的谷子叶中类黄酮含量明显高于高氮供应条件下的谷子.谷子叶中PAL活性对两种影响因子的响应较类黄酮含量更加敏感,低氮供应条件使谷子叶中PAL活性明显提高.结合上述指标的相关性分析结果可知,低氮供应条件加强了处于繁殖期主要阶段的谷子叶中类黄酮的积累,并使谷子叶中的类胡萝卜素/叶绿素含量比值明显提高,进而有助于维持谷子叶中光合色素含量在增强UV-B辐射条件下的相对稳定性,对植株抵抗UV-B辐射伤害有利.     

The Regulation of Exogenous Jasmonic Acid on UV-B Stress Tolerance in Wheat

Enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280?C320?nm) is recognized as one of the environmental stress factors that cannot be neglected. Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important signaling molecule in a plant??s defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. To determine the role of exogenous JA in the resistance of wheat to stress from UV-B radiation, wheat seedlings were exposed to 0.9?kJ?m^?2?h^?1 UV-B radiation for 12?h after pretreatment with 1 and 2.5?mM JA, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the content of UV-B absorbing compounds, photosynthetic pigments, and proline and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured. The results of two-way ANOVA illustrated that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), MDA level, anthocyanin and carotenoid (Car) content, and almost all chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly affected by UV-B, JA, and UV-B?×?JA (P?<?0.05) [the maximal efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry (F _v/F _m) was not affected significantly by UV-B radiation]. Duncan??s multiple-range tests demonstrated that UV-B stress induced a significant reduction in plant photosystem II (PSII) function and SOD activity and an increased level of membrane lipid peroxidation, indicative of the deleterious effect of UV-B radiation on wheat. JA pretreatment obviously mitigated the detrimental effect of UV-B on PSII function by increasing F _v/F _m, reaction centers?? excitation energy capture efficiency (F _v??/F _m??), effective photosystem II quantum yield (??PSII), and photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), and by decreasing nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of wheat seedlings. Moreover, the activity of SOD and the content of proline and anthocyanin were provoked by exogenous JA. However, the MDA level was increased and Car content was decreased by exogenous JA with or without the presence of supplementary UV-B, whereas the contents of chlorophyll and flavonoids and related phenolics were not affected by exogenous JA. Meanwhile, exogenous JA resulted in a decrease of CAT and POD activities under UV-B radiation stress. These results partly confirm the hypothesis that exogenous JA could counteract the negative effects of UV-B stress on wheat seedlings to some extent.     

粉红珙桐叶片呈色相关生理特性的季节变化

以四川省珙县王家镇同一生境下不同季节的粉红与绿叶珙桐叶片为试材,对其色素含量、渗透调节物质含量及相关酶活性进行测定,分析其季节性变化规律,从生理角度探寻影响珙桐叶片呈色的关键因素,以期为粉红珙桐的选育和合理栽培提供理论依据和技术参考。结果显示:(1)粉红珙桐叶片花色苷含量在春夏秋季均极显著高于绿叶珙桐,在夏季时含量最低;粉红珙桐叶片总叶绿素含量在夏季和秋季极显著低于绿叶珙桐,从春季过渡至秋季过程中逐渐上升;两者的类胡萝卜素和类黄酮含量差异不明显且在季节间较平稳。(2)粉红珙桐叶片的可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量略高于绿叶珙桐,夏季时达到最高;其脯氨酸含量也高于绿叶珙桐,且从春季到秋季缓慢上升。(3)粉红珙桐叶片苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性(PAL)、苯基苯乙烯酮黄烷酮异构酶(CHI)和超氧化物歧化酶活性(SOD)都显著高于绿叶珙桐,过氧化物酶(POD)活性则相反;从春季到秋季过程中,两种珙桐叶片PAL活性先减弱后增强,其POD和SOD活性则先增强后减弱,但粉红珙桐CHI活性逐渐减弱,绿叶CHI活性则先上升后下降。(4)粉红珙桐叶片花色苷含量与叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量以及CHI、POD和SOD活性呈显著负相关关系。研究表明,叶片花色苷含量的增加和叶绿素含量的减少是粉红珙桐呈色的决定因素,CHI、SOD和POD活性是调节花色苷降解速率的关键酶。     

Responses in the physiology and biochemistry of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) under supplementary UV-B radiation

The effect of supplementary UV-B radiation on Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) was investigated. Compared with the control, the T1, T2, and T3 UV-B treatments increased by 1.40, 2.81, and 4.22 kJ m^?2 d^?1, respectively. Gas-exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, contents of secondary metabolites, epicuticular wax, free radical, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined after 40 d of exposure. The concentrations of chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, total Chl, carotenoid (Car), and the ratio Chl a/b in the pine needles were in the following order: T1 > T2 > T3. Compared with the control, the contents of flavonoids and epicuticular wax significantly decreased in all levels of supplementary UV-B radiations (p<0.05). Moreover, the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and MDA significantly increased with the enhanced UV-B radiations (p<0.05). Korean pine can increase the catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities to prevent oxidative stress by supplementary UV-B radiation. However, its defence mechanism is not efficient enough to prevent UV-Binduced damage.     

芒果老叶在增强UV-B辐射处理下的损伤和保护反应

以‘台衣一号’芒果盆栽苗离体老叶为试材,研究增强UV—B辐射条件下芒果老叶的损伤和保护反应。结果表明：UV—B辐射处理使芒果叶片MDA含量和相对电导率升高、叶绿素含量和叶绿素a／b降低,表明叶片受到损伤,且随处理时间延长叶片损伤加重。UV—B辐射处理叶片可溶性蛋白含量、抗氧化酶（SOD、CAT、POD）活性、保护色素（类胡萝卜素、类黄酮）和还原型GSH含量显著高于对照叶片,UV—B辐射处理叶片维生素C含量显著低于对照叶片,表明增强UV—B辐射可诱导叶片细胞通过提高活性氧清除能力和积累保护色素而直接吸收部分UV—B辐射来提高抗增强UV—B辐射损伤的能力。     

Stimulation of Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation by UV-B Irradiation in Thylakoid Membranes of Wheat

In wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv. 2329) oxidative stress caused by UV-B radiation led to lipid peroxidation of thylakoid membrane; it was expressed in term of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. The peroxidation of lipids of thylakoid membrane in isolated chloroplasts was prevented when flavonoids quercetin and rutin were supplied into the incubation medium. The activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase increased during the first hours of UV-B exposure. A comparative study of UV-B and temperature effects showed different profiles of the antioxidant enzymes and MDA, suggesting that these two stresses have distinct sites of action. In addition to quantitative increase in flavonoids, qualitative change in flavonoid composition was also marked during UV-B stress, and a new peak at 330 nm was found as compared to control. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

UV-B胁迫下NaHSO3对红芸豆叶片的保护作用

为了减轻UV-B辐射对植物叶片的伤害,本研究以离体红芸豆叶片为实验材料,通过外源施加NaHSO3的方法探讨了UV-B辐射下NaHSO3对离体红芸豆叶片的保护作用。结果表明：与未处理对照相比较,用0.5mmol·L^-1NaHSO3处理的离体红芸豆叶片表面褐色斑减少、边缘蜷曲及萎蔫程度降低;且能延缓叶片中叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量的降低;使类黄酮含量升高;叶片中过氧化物酶（POD）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性升高,过氧化氢（H2O2）含量降低。进一步研究发现NaHSO3处理能明显延缓PSⅡ原初光能转换效率的降低;增强PSⅡ的电子传递能力,减少叶绿体内有害自由基的产生,减缓叶绿体内光合机构遭受破坏的程度。以上结果表明NaHSO3可能通过提高POD和APX的活性、降低自由基产生及保护光合色素等来实现UV-B胁迫下对红芸豆叶片的保护作用。     

紫花苜蓿UV-B光受体基因MsUVR8的克隆及功能研究北大核心CSCD

该研究采用RACE扩增技术克隆了一个紫花苜蓿UV-B光受体基因(MsUVR8),在生物信息学分析基础上,采用农杆菌介导法获得了该基因过表达愈伤组织,并对UV-B辐射处理后MsUVR8过表达愈伤组织及其野生型中的类黄酮、黄酮醇、花青素、过氧化氢(H_(2)O_(2))、超氧阴离子(O_(2)^(-·))含量以及UV-B信号通路相关基因的表达进行检测分析,以探讨MsUVR8基因的生物学功能,为揭示植物响应UV-B胁迫的分子机制奠定理论基础。结果表明:(1)成功克隆获得紫花苜蓿MsUVR8基因CDS序列834 bp,且MsUVR8与蒺藜苜蓿MtUVR8基因序列相似度高达95%以上;MsUVR8蛋白形成了不完整的β-折叠结构,系统发育分析显示其与鹰嘴豆属于同一分支。(2)对MsUVR8过表达系检测发现,紫花苜蓿MsUVR8过表达愈伤组织(UVR8-OE)中类黄酮含量较野生型愈伤组织(WT)明显升高,而且经UV-B辐射后的UVR8-OE类黄酮物质含量较WT进一步显著升高。(3)DPBA荧光标记实验发现,UV-B辐射大大促进了细胞中黄酮醇的合成,且UV-B辐射后的UVR8-OE中黄酮醇含量最高。(4)DAB和NBT染色显示,UV-B处理后WT中活性氧(H_(2)O_(2)和O_(2)^(-·))的积累增加,而在UV-B辐射处理与未处理的UVR8-OE中H_(2)O_(2)和O_(2)^(-·)的积累无明显差异,表明MsUVR8可增强植物组织细胞的抗氧化性能,并可降低UV-B胁迫引起的氧化损伤。(5)UV-B辐照后,WT中PAL、CHS和FLS表达被激活而显著提高,UVR8-OE中的4种基因表达均达到最大,且较其他3个处理组均显著增强。研究认为,紫花苜蓿MsUVR8被UV-B激活后,促进了类黄酮合成相关基因的表达,并激活了类黄酮合成关键酶的活性,从而提高了类黄酮物质的合成效率,增强了UV-B胁迫条件下植物愈伤组织的抗氧化能力。     

三角褐指藻和小角毛藻对UV-B辐射增强的生理生化响应

通过实验生态学和生物化学的方法,研究了UV-B辐射对三角褐指藻和小角毛藻的生长、叶绿素a、类胡萝卜素、丙二醛、可溶性蛋白含量和抗氧化物酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1) UV-B辐射增强抑制了2种微藻的生长,低剂量(0.75J/m²)UV-B辐射对三角褐指藻的生长具有一定刺激作用。(2) 三角褐指藻的叶绿素a含量随辐射剂量的增加先上升后下降,小角毛藻chl-a含量缓慢下降。2种微藻MDA含量随UV-B辐射剂量的增加而升高。(3) 随着辐射剂量的增加,三角褐指藻可溶性蛋白含量先稍有升高后较快下降。小角毛藻可溶性蛋白含量始终呈下降趋势。(4) UV-B辐射增强使2种微藻的SOD 、POD和CAT活性先升高后下降,小角毛藻的酶活性变化相对稳定。     

UV-B 胁迫下NaHSO3 对红芸豆叶片的保护作用

为了减轻UV-B辐射对植物叶片的伤害, 本研究以离体红芸豆叶片为实验材料, 通过外源施加NaHSO3的方法探讨了UV-B辐射下NaHSO3 对离体红芸豆叶片的保护作用。结果表明：与未处理对照相比较, 用0.5 mmol.L-1 NaHSO3处理的离体红芸豆叶片表面褐色斑减少、边缘蜷曲及萎蔫程度降低;且能延缓叶片中叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量的降低;使类黄酮含量升高; 叶片中过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性升高, 过氧化氢(H2O2)含量降低。进一步研究发现NaHSO3处理能明显延缓PSⅡ原初光能转换效率的降低;增强PSⅡ的电子传递能力, 减少叶绿体内有害自由基的产生, 减缓叶绿体内光合机构遭受破坏的程度。以上结果表明NaHSO3可能通过提高POD和APX的活性、降低自由基产生及保护光合色素等来实现UV-B胁迫下对红芸豆叶片的保护作用。     

温度和紫外辐射胁迫对西藏飞蝗抗氧化系统的影响

为探讨西藏飞蝗(Locusta migratoria tibetensis Chen)对环境的适应机制,报道了温度和紫外辐射胁迫对西藏飞蝗抗氧化系统影响。以西藏飞蝗成虫为试材,研究5—20℃低温、30—45℃高温胁迫和紫外线辐射对其抗氧化酶活性和膜脂过氧化物丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响。在5—20℃低温胁迫下,成虫体壁和消化道超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量分别随温度降低而升高;在30—35℃高温胁迫下,成虫SOD、POD和CAT活性分别随温度升高而升高,当温度超过35℃时,3种氧化酶活性均下降。长波紫外辐射(UV-A)和中波紫外辐射(UV-B)对处理后24h和72h成虫的SOD活性的影响大于可见光,在UV-A、UV-B和可见光3种光波长处理下,成虫的POD和CAT活性随光照时间的延长而增加,其中UV-B对两种酶活性影响大于UV-A和可见光,表现为UV-B处理组>UV-A处理组>可见光处理组;UV-A和UV-B处理能导致虫体体壁MDA含量明显升高,且对脂质过氧化的诱导存在时间效应;雌虫体壁、雌虫消化道、雄虫体壁和雄虫消化道的MDA含量分别在UV-B72h、UV-A72h、UV-A72h和UV-B72h达最大值0.72、0.88、0.66和0.94 nmol/g鲜重。在20—5℃低温胁迫下,西藏飞蝗成虫抗氧化酶活性升高,能较好的保护自身免遭活性氧自由基的伤害;西藏飞蝗对高温忍耐力差,在高于35℃高温胁迫下,成虫SOD、POD、CAT活性均下降;在长波和中波紫外辐射下,西藏飞蝗抗氧化酶活性显著升高,是西藏飞蝗对紫外线辐射强度大的青藏高原的一种重要适应。     

Exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid alleviates the detrimental effects of UV-B stress on lettuce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca sativa</Emphasis> L) seedlings

One of the abiotic stress factors affecting plant metabolism is ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a key precursor of porphyrin biosynthesis, promotes plant growth and crop yields. To investigate the alleviating effects of exogenous ALA on the damages caused by UV-B exposure, two different concentrations [10 ppm (ALA1) and 25 ppm (ALA2)] of ALA were applied to lettuce seedlings for 24 h and then they were exposed to 3.3 W m^?2 UV-B. Results showed that UV-B treatment significantly decreased chlorophyll a and b (Chl a and b) concentration, enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, total phenolic concentration, soluble sugar contents, expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) genes, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the rate of superoxide radical (\({\text{O}}_{2}^{ - }\)) generation in the lettuce seedlings when compared to the control. Pre-treatment with exogenous ALA significantly enhanced UV-B stress tolerance in lettuce seedlings by decreasing the reactive oxygen species. On the other hand, ALA application caused more increases in the PAL and γ-TMT gene expression, antioxidant enzymes activities, Chl a and b concentration, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and the concentrations of soluble sugars. Obtained results indicated that UV-B radiation exerts an adverse effect on lettuce seedlings, and some of the negative effects of UV-B radiation can be alleviated by exogenous ALA.     

不同小麦品种对UV-B辐射增强响应的生理特性差异

研究了大田条件下模拟增强UV-B辐射（500 KJ·m^-2,相当于昆明地区臭氧层减少20%）对10个小麦品种生理指标的影响以及小麦对UV B辐射响应的种内差异.结果表明,10个供试小麦品种中有6个品种的叶绿素含量显著下降,叶绿素a降低的程度大于叶绿素b,从而导致叶绿素a/b的比率下降.UV-B对小麦叶片内MDA和类黄酮的影响也具有种内差异,有5个品种的MDA含量显著上升, 2个品种的MDA含量显著下降;4个品种的类黄酮含量显著增加,2个品种的类黄酮含量显著减少.叶绿素和类黄酮含量变化与MDA含量均呈显著负相关关系,类黄酮与小麦UV-B抗性之间存在密切联系.     

Calcium and L-histidine effects on ascorbate-glutathione cycle components under nickel-induced oxidative stress in tomato plants

The effects of NiSO₄, calcium, and L-histidine (His) on the components of ascorbate-glutathione cycle, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in a tomato cultivar Early Urbana Y was investigated. The activities of enzymes including catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), lipoxygenase (LOX), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were measured. In addition, the content of H₂O₂, ascorbate (ASC), dehydroascorbate (DHA), reduced glutathione (GSH), chlorophyll (Chl) a+b, carotenoids, proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), membrane aldehydes, and electrolyte leakage (EL) were determined. Results suggest that the excess of Ni increased the content of H₂O₂, MDA, membrane aldehydes and proteins in roots as well as GPX, LOX, APX activities, and EL in leaves, whereas Ca and His ameliorated these effects. Moreover, decreasing leaf GSH and DHA content and GR activity were observed under the Ni stress, but these parameters were raised by Ca plus His treatment. However, no improvement in leaf protein, ASC, root GSH content, and activities of PAL and CAT were observed by using Ca or His under Ni stress.     

Short-term UV-B radiation effects on morphology,physiological traits and accumulation of bioactive compounds in Prunella vulgaris L.

Prunella vulgaris plants (full-bloom stage) were subjected to short-term (15 days) UV-B radiation in a growth chamber. UV-B radiation was effective at enhancing morphological and biomass characteristics and decreasing chlorophyll contents of P. vulgaris. Treatment of P. vulgaris with artificial UV-B radiation significantly increased peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities compared to the control treatment. UV-B radiation significantly increased the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline in leaves of P. vulgaris compared to those of control plants. In addition, the contents of total flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and hyperoside significantly increased under UV-B radiation. The total phenolic levels also increased under UV-B treatment. These results demonstrated that short-term UV-B radiation can enhance production of secondary metabolites in P. vulgaris, resulting in increased spica yield compared to that of control plants.     

Thiourea mediates alleviation of UV-B stress-induced damage in the Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

UV-B radiation (280–320 nm) as an environmental stress has damaging effect on plants and its overexposure can potentially interfere with growth and development. The effect of thiourea (TU) on UV-B stress tolerance of 10-day-old Brassica juncea seedlings subjected to supplementary UV-B for 5 days was investigated. An increase in the UV-B absorbing compounds anthocyanin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds was observed in UV-B + TU treated seedlings as compared to that of control. The enhanced synthesis of UV-B screening compounds resulted in lesser damage to chlorophyll and also gain in fresh weight and dry weight in UV-B + TU as compared to UV-B alone treatment. The enzymatic activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) also increased in UV-B + TU. The expression profiling of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (pal) and chalcone synthase (chs) indicated an upregulation under UV-B + TU treatment, compared to that of control, suggesting that TU treatment ensured an early and efficient induction of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. The results indicate that TU helps in ameliorating the damaging effects of UV-B stress by efficiently maintaining the antioxidant status and attenuating the penetration of the UV-B.