The depth of light penetration from the adaxial surfaces of the mature leaves of pecan (Carya illinoensis) was measured using a fiber optic microprobe system at four wavelengths: UV-B (310nm), UV-A (360 nm), blue light (430nm), and red light (680nm). The average thickness of the leaf adaxial epidermal layer was 15um and the total leaf thickness was 219um. The patterns of the light attenuation by the leaf tissues exhibited strong wavelength dependence. The leaf adaxial epidermal layer was chiefly responsible for absorbing the UV-A UV-B radiation. About 98% of 310 nm light was steeply attenuated within the first 5 um of the adaxial epidermis; thus, very little UV-B radiation was transmitted to the mesophyll tissues where contain photosynthetically sensitive sites. The adaxial epidermis also attenuated 96% of the UV-A radiation. In contrast, the blue and red light penetrated much deeper and was gradually attenutated by the leaves. The mesophyll tissues attenuated 17% of the blue light and 42% of the red light, which were available for photosynthesis use. Since the epidermal layer absorbed nearly all UV-B light, it acted as an effective filter screening out the harmful radiation and protecting photosynthetically sensitive tissues from the UV-B damage. Therefore, the epidermal function of the UV-B screening effectiveness can be regarded as one of the UV-B protection mechanisms in pecan.
Increased concentration of leaf UV-B absorbing-compounds due to exposure to UV-B radiation is widely accepted as one of the plant adaptations to resist enhanced UV-B radiation. This paper reports a field comparative study of dynamics and temporal changes of UV-B absorbing-compound concentration in 35 southern broadleaf trees over a growing season. Leaf UV-B absorbing-compound, chlorophyll concentration, and leaf thickness were measured from the sun-exposed leaves of 35 tree species collected monthly from individual trees growing within the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana from April to October in 2000. The USDA UV-B Monitoring Network Baton Rouge Station provided the ambient UV-B radiation data. Leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration varied significantly with leaf age and species. Intra-specifically, leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration exhibited a generally increasing trend during leaf growth and development in response to the increased exposure to natural UV-B/solar radiation during the growing season. Inter-specifically, significant differences existed in leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration. The species were compared and ranked based on the growing season averages of the leaf total UV-B absorbing-compound concentration. The species were further classified into three levels (high, medium, and low) based on the magnitude of UV-B absorbing-compound concentration.
Decreasing stratospheric ozone concentrations have led to concern for an enhanced UVB radiation (wavelength range of 280-315 nm) reaching the Earth's surface. An understanding of the mechanism of UVB radiation tolerance and sensitivity may improve our ability to assess the potential effects of changes in solar UVB radiation on plant species. The purpose of this research was to conduct an assessment of tolerance of southern trees to future enhanced UVB radiation. This paper describes the systematic approach developed for such an assessment and the preliminary results associated with thirty-five broadleaf tree species in the South studied during two growing seasons. Results indicated that the diverse trees in the South possessed various biological characteristics in defense of UVB damage. It is suggested that the approach to comprehensive evaluation of UVB tolerance in diverse trees should focus on leaf optical properties, mainly depth of light penetration into leaves, leaf anatomical and morphological changes, and concentration of leaf UVB absorbing compounds during leaf development.
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