Responses to UV-B radiation in Trifolium repens L. – physiological links to plant productivity and water availability |
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Authors: | R W HOFMANN B D CAMPBELL S J BLOOR E E SWINNY K R MARKHAM K G RYAN & D W FOUNTAIN |
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Institution: | AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand,;NZ Institute of Industrial Research and Development, PO Box 31310, Lower Hutt, New Zealand and;Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | This study used comparisons across nine populations of Trifolium repens (white clover) in conjunction with drought to examine physiological responses to ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐B). Plants were exposed for 12 weeks to supplementation with 13.3 kJ m?2 d?1 UV‐B, accompanied by 4 weeks of drought under controlled environmental conditions. UV‐B increased the levels of UV‐B‐absorbing compounds and of flavonol glycosides and this effect was synergistically enhanced by water stress. These changes were more pronounced for the ortho‐dihydroxylated quercetin, rather than the monohydroxylated kaempferol glycosides. UV‐B increased leaf water potential (ψL) by 16% under drought and proline levels by 23% under well‐watered conditions. The intraspecific comparisons showed that higher UV‐B‐induced levels of UV‐B‐absorbing compounds, of quercetin glycosides and of ψL were linked to lower plant productivity and to higher UV‐B tolerance under well‐watered conditions. These findings suggest that: (1) slow‐growing T. repens ecotypes adapted to other stresses have higher capacity for physiological acclimation to UV‐B; and (2) that these attributes also contribute to decreased UV‐B sensitivity under drought. |
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Keywords: | acclimation drought flavonoids high-performance liquid chromatography intraspecific quercetin stress ultraviolet-B white clover |
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