Leaf UV optical properties of rumex patientia l. and rumex obtusifolius l. in regard to a protective mechanism against solar UV-B radiation injury

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 1987

OSTI ID:6936234

Robberecht, R; Caldwell, M M

Effective UV attenuation in the outer leaf layers may represent an important protective mechanism against potentially damaging solar UV-B radiation. Epidermal optical properties for Rumex patientia and Rumex obtusifolius were examined on field-collected and greenhouse-grown plants. Rumex patientia, a relatively UV-B sensitive plant, has substantially higher epidermal UV transmittance than Rumex obtusifolius, which indicated that the UV-B flux at the mesophyll layer for Rumex obtusifolius by 27% after exposure to solar UV-B radiation. Flavonoid extract absorbance also increased in whole leaves of both species after solar UV-B radiation. The epidermis is not only an effective filter for UV-B radiation, but is wavelength selective, and shows a degree of plasticity in this attenuation.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6936234
• Report Number(s): PB-87-147112/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560140* -- Radiation Effects on Plants
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GERMINATION
LEAVES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION