Interactive effect of supplemental ultraviolet B and elevated ozone on seed yield and oil quality of two cultivars of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) carried out in open top chambers.
BACKGROUND
Current scenarios of global climate change predict a significant increase in ultraviolet B (UV-B) and tropospheric ozone (O₃) in the near future. Both UV-B and O₃ can have detrimental effects on the productivity and yield quality of important agricultural crops. The present study was conducted to investigate the individual and interactive effects of supplemental UV-B (sUV-B) (ambient + 7.2 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹) and O₃ (ambient + 10 ppb) on the yield and oil quality of two cultivars of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.).


RESULTS
The mean monthly ambient O₃ concentration varied from 27.7 to 59.0 ppb during the experimental period. O₃ affected fruit formation, while sUV-B was mainly responsible for ovule abortion. Seed sugar and protein contents showed maximum reduction in O₃-treated plants, while mineral nutrient levels were most affected by sUV-B + O₃ treatment. Rancid oil of low nutritional quality and containing long-chain fatty acids was favoured along with a decrease in oil content.


CONCLUSIONS
sUV-B and O₃ individually as well as in combination caused deterioration of the yield and quality of oil and seeds of linseed. However, the individual effect of O₃ was more damaging than the effect of sUV-B or sUV-B + O₃, and cultivar T-397 performed better than Padmini.
Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Ecology Research Circle, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
Ruchika
R
Tripathi
Shashi B
SB
Agrawal
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D057231:Climate Change; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019597:Flax / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D063427:Food Quality; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D056130:Gametogenesis, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007194:India; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008903:Minerals; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D010126:Ozone; D008043:Linseed Oil