Journal of Environmental Biology

Supplemental UV-B radiation induced changes in growth, pigments

and antioxidant pool of bean (Dolichos lablab) under field conditions

Author Details

Raghubansh Singh

Laboratory for Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Ecology Research Circle, Department

of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India

Suruchi Singh

Laboratory for Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Ecology Research Circle, Department

of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India

Ruchika Tripathi

Laboratory for Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Ecology Research Circle, Department

of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India

S.B. Agrawal

(Corresponding author)

Laboratory for Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Ecology Research Circle, Department

of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India

e-mail: sbagrawal56@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

11 April 2009

Revised received:

03 March 2010

Accepted:

19 April 2010

Abstract

Present study is conducted to evaluate the response of bean (Dolichos lablab cv . pusa early prolific) plants to supplemental UV-B (sUV-B: 280-315 nm: 7.2 kJ m^-2 d^-1) radiation. UV-B caused alteration in biomass translocation pattern with more retention of biomass in below ground parts leading to an increment in root shoot ratio. Specific leaf area (SLA) which is the measure of leaf thinness, increased in plants under sUV-B exposure by 95.7 and 82.3% after 15 and 30 days after germination. Photosynthetic machinery of bean plants was the potential target of UV-B as photosynthetic rate was decreased by 88.6 % at 30 days after germination.? sUV-B lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species thus generating oxidative stress. Stimulation of antioxidant defense system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) was observed due to sUV-B radiation. Phenolic content decreased (34.7 and 18.6%) but protein showed varied response, increased initially (34%) thereafter declined (10.2%) under sUV-B radiation.

Key words

Dolichos lablab, UV-B radiation, Biomass, Specific leaf area (SLA), Photosynthetic system, Antioxidant defence system

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