Response of Several Spring Barley Cultivars to UV-B Radiation and Ozone Treatment

Authors

  • Kristina DĖDELIENĖ
  • Romualdas JUKNYS

Keywords:

chlorophylls, carotenoids, dry biomass, spring barley, ozone, UV-B radiation.

Abstract

Experiments were conducted under controlled environmental conditions to assess the impact of UV-B radiation (8 kJ m-2 d-1) and ozone (240 μg m-3) on seven spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars. It has been established that the impact of UV-B and ozone on various spring barley cultivars differs greatly and in most cases the cultivars which are tolerant to an impact of ozone are sensitive to UV-B and vice versa. The impact of both investigated stressors resulted in a more pronounced decrease in chlorophyll a than chlorophyll b content while the chlorophyll a/b ratio in the leaves of different spring barley cultivars has also decreased. The reaction of carotenoids differs greatly depending on a stressor. UV-B radiation causes a significant increase in the content of carotenoids which is most likely a defence reaction against high energy short-wave radiation. The impact of ozone, in contrast, resulted in a decrease in carotenoids in the leaves of different spring barley cultivars.

Author Biographies

Kristina DĖDELIENĖ

Centre of Environmental Research, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University

Romualdas JUKNYS

Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University

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Published

2010-12-21

Issue

Section

Articles