Impact of ultraviolet-B radiation on photosynthetic capacity,antioxidative potential and metabolites in Solanum tuberosum L. under varying levels of soil NPK

The impact of supplemental ultraviolet-B (sUV-B; 280–315 nm; +7.2 kJ m^?2 d^?1) radiation was studied on various physiological parameters, antioxidative potential and metabolites of Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kufri Badshah plants under varying levels of soil NPK. The N, P and K treatments were: the recommended dose of N, P and K; 1.5 times the recommended dose of N, P and K; 1.5 times the recommended dose of N and 1.5 times the recommended dose of K. The recommended NPK level provided maximum protection to photosynthetic assimilation under sUV-B radiation, while stomatal conductance was best at 1.5 times the recommended NPK. Carbon dioxide assimilation declined maximally at 1.5 times the recommended N/K under sUV-B radiation. Plants grown at the recommended NPK and 1.5 times the recommended NPK levels showed higher superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activities under sUV-B radiation compared to 1.5 times the recommended N/K levels. sUV-B significantly increased total phenolics and flavonoids in plants at the recommended and 1.5 times the recommended NPK, while flavonoids declined at 1.5 times the recommended N. This study clearly showed that NPK amendment provided maximum protection to photosynthetic assimilation of potato plants under sUV-B radiation, activating the antioxidative defense system as well as flavonoids. NPK at 1.5 times the recommended dose, however, did not cause any additional benefit to photosynthetic carbon fixation; hence the recommended dose of NPK is found to be the best suited dose of fertilizer under ambient as well as sUV-B regime.