title: Integration and scaling of UV-B radiation effects on plants: from molecular interactions to whole plant responses.
abstract: A process based model integrating the effects of UV-B radiation to molecular level processes and their consequences to whole plant growth and development was developed from key parameters in the published literature. Model simulations showed that UV-B radiation induced changes in plant metabolic and/or photosynthesis rates can result in plant growth inhibitions. The costs of effective epidermal UV-B radiation absorptive compounds did not result in any significant changes in plant growth, but any associated metabolic costs effectively reduced the potential plant biomass. The model showed significant interactions between UV-B radiation effects and temperature and any factor leading to inhibition of photosynthetic production or plant growth during the midday, but the effects were not cumulative for all factors. Vegetative growth were significantly delayed in species that do not exhibit reproductive cycles during a growing season, but vegetative growth and reproductive yield in species completing their life cycle in one growing season did not appear to be delayed more than 2-5 days, probably within the natural variability of the life cycles for many species. This is the first model to integrate the effects of increased UV-B radiation through molecular level processes and their consequences to whole plant growth and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Science College of Science University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS1104 Moscow Idaho 83844-1104.
authors.forename: Vasile Alexandru
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Suchar
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences College of Natural Resources University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS1133 Moscow Idaho 83844-1133.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robberecht
keywords: Ecological integration; UV‐B radiation; plant growth; plant modeling