Issue 2, 2019

Elevated air humidity increases UV mediated leaf and DNA damage in pea (Pisum sativum) due to reduced flavonoid content and antioxidant power

Abstract

Growth in high relative air humidity (RH, >85%) affects plant morphology and causes diminished response to stomatal closing signals. Many greenhouses are prone to high RH conditions, which may negatively affect production and post-harvest quality. UV radiation induces stomatal closure in several species, and facilitates disease control. We hypothesised that UV exposure may trigger stomatal closure in pea plants (Pisum sativum) grown in high RH, thereby restoring stomatal function. The effects of UV exposure were tested on plants grown in moderate (60%) or high (90%) RH. UV exposure occurred at night, according to a disease control protocol. Lower stomatal conductance rates were found in UV-exposed plants, though UV exposure did not improve the rate of response to closing stimuli or desiccation tolerance. UV-exposed plants showed leaf curling, chlorosis, necrosis, and DNA damage measured by the presence of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD), all of which were significantly greater in high RH plants. These plants also had lower total flavonoid content than moderate RH plants, and UV-exposed plants had less than controls. Plants exposed to UV had a higher content of cuticular layer uronic compounds than control plants. However, high RH plants had a higher relative amount of cuticular waxes, but decreased proteins and uronic compounds. Plants grown in high RH had reduced foliar antioxidant power compared to moderate RH. These results indicate that high RH plants were more susceptible to UV-induced damage than moderate RH plants due to reduced flavonoid content and oxidative stress defence.

Graphical abstract: Elevated air humidity increases UV mediated leaf and DNA damage in pea (Pisum sativum) due to reduced flavonoid content and antioxidant power

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 9月 2018
Accepted
15 11月 2018
First published
19 11月 2018

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019,18, 387-399

Elevated air humidity increases UV mediated leaf and DNA damage in pea (Pisum sativum) due to reduced flavonoid content and antioxidant power

S. N. Innes, L. E. Arve, B. Zimmermann, L. Nybakken, T. I. Melby, K. A. Solhaug, J. E. Olsen and S. Torre, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 387 DOI: 10.1039/C8PP00401C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements