D Comont, A Winters, D Gwynn‐Jones – Ecology and Evolution, 2012
Here, a factorial experiment was used to investigate the interactive effects of a UV-B episode and concurrent progressive drought on the growth, chemistry, and reproductive success of A. thaliana. Both drought and UV-B negatively affected rosette growth, although UV-B had the greater effect. Acclimation to UV-B involved adjustment of leaf morphology, while drought induced accumulation of soluble sugars and phenolics. All plants recovered from treatments, but the cost of recovery was a developmental delay resulting in alteration in phenological timings. Combined treatments interacted causing additive negative effects on growth following exposure. This may be linked with inhibition of soluble sugar accumulation by UV-B, restricting the capacity for osmotic adjustment in response to drought. Following cessation of treatments, relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) were significantly stimulated in plants treated with combined drought and UV-B. This interaction alleviated subsequent impacts of elevated UV-B on silique yield and reproductive timings. This study demonstrates the potential for interaction between these two common environmental factors. Furthermore, it shows the changeable nature of these interactions over the course of exposure and recovery through to reproduction, highlighting the need for sustained assessment of such interactions over a plant’s lifecycle… Cleveland, Ohio, USA) wrapped in cellulose diacetate (0.13 mm, Courtaulds, Derby, UK) to attenuate UV-C. The daily UV-B BE dose was 5.47 kJ/m 2 /day, measured using an EPP2000 Fibre Optic Spectroradiometer with an F400 UV/VIS fiber optic cable (StellarNet Inc, Tampa … View PDF.
Figure 1. Representative A. thaliana plants over the course of the lifecycle studied. (a) Before treatment, (b) following treatment and subsequent recovery, (c) Rosettes at onset of reproduction, and (d) Plants with mature floral stems, shown with aracon tubes fitted to aid seed collection.
Appendix 1: (a) Soil matric potential in the drought and control conditions over the experimental treatment period
