UV responses of Lolium perenne raised along a latitudinal gradient across Europe: a filtration study.
Lolium perenne (cv. AberDart) was grown at 14 locations along a latitudinal gradient across Europe (37-68°N) to study the impact of ultraviolet radiation (UV) and climate on aboveground growth and foliar UV-B absorbing compounds. At each location, plants were grown outdoors for 5 weeks in a replicated UV-B filtration experiment consisting of open, UV-B transparent (cellulose diacetate) and UV-B opaque (polyester) environments. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy was used to compare plant metabolite profiles in relation to treatment and location. UV radiation and climatic parameters were determined for each location from online sources and the data were assessed using a combination of anova and multiple regression analyses. Most of the variation in growth between the locations was attributable to the combination of climatic parameters, with minimum temperature identified as an important growth constraint. However, no single environmental parameter could consistently account for the variability in plant growth. Concentrations of foliar UV-B absorbing compounds showed a positive trend with solar UV across the latitudinal gradient; however, this relationship was not consistent in all treatments. The most striking experimental outcome from this study was the effect of presence or absence of filtration frames on UV-absorbing compounds. Overall, the study demonstrates the value of an European approach in studying the impacts of natural UV across a large latitudinal gradient. We have shown the feasibility of coordinated UV filtration at multiple sites but have also highlighted the need for open controls and careful interpretation of plant responses.
IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK.
David
D
Comont
Javier
J
Martinez Abaigar
Andreas
A
Albert
Pedro
P
Aphalo
David R
DR
Causton
Félix López
FL
Figueroa
Alenka
A
Gaberscik
Laura
L
Llorens
Marie-Theres
MT
Hauser
Marcel A K
MA
Jansen
Majlis
M
Kardefelt
Paqui
P
de la Coba Luque
Susanne
S
Neubert
Encarnación
E
Núñez-Olivera
Jorunn
J
Olsen
Matthew
M
Robson
Monika
M
Schreiner
Ruben
R
Sommaruga
Ake
A
Strid
Sissel
S
Torre
Minna
M
Turunen
Sonja
S
Veljovic-Jovanovic
Dolors
D
Verdaguer
Marija
M
Vidovic
Johanna
J
Wagner
Jana Barbro
JB
Winkler
Gaetano
G
Zipoli
Dylan
D
Gwynn-Jones
D002980:Climate; D005060:Europe; D008129:Lolium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays