Changes in the content of pigments and rate of photosynthesis in Azolla microphylla Kaulf. fronds were measured during growth under solar and ultraviolet-C (UV-C) supplemented solar radiation. Maximum content of total chlorophyll (Chl) was observed on the 13th day (termination of the experiment) of treatment in both control and treated plants. The treated plants had significantly lower total Chl and carotenoid contents than the control plants during the 1st day of growth. After the 4th day of exposure to UV-C supplemented solar radiation, the Chl and carotenoids accumulation increased in treated plants, so that the pigment concentration in the treated fronds was nearer to the control values after the 13th day of treatment. Significant increase in UV absorbing pigments, anthocyanins, and flavonoids was observed at the 13th day of treatment. In spite of the roughly similar photosynthetic pigment concentration, the photosynthetic activity measured as the rate of electron transport at photosystem 2 was only 65 % of the control values after 13 d of UV-C exposure. and M. Jayakumar ... [et al.].
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. seedlings were subjected to continuous ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation for 18 h and post-irradiated with "white light" (WL) and UV-A enhanced fluorescent radiations. UV-B treatment alone reduced plant growth, pigment content, and photosynthetic activities. Supplementation of UV-A promoted the overall seedling growth and enhanced the synthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoids with a relatively high photosystem 1 activity. Post UV-B irradiation under WL failed to photoreactive the UV-B damage whereas a positive photoregulatory effect of UV-A was noticed in electron transport rates and low temperature fluorescence emission spectra. and K. Lingakumar, G. Kulandaivelu.
In field-grown Cyamopsis seedlings, distinct changes were found in the rates of photosystems (PS) 2 and 1 activities at different time of the day. Maximum PS2 activity was at around 11:00 h and decreased thereafter. On the contrary, PS1 activity continued to increase up to 14:00 h and declined in evening hours. Significant energy transfer from PS2 to PS1 was evident during the morning and evening hours of the day whereas a slow excitation of PS2 and energy transfer was favoured during noon hours. and K. Lingakumar, G. Kulandaivelu.
The effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on growth and photosynthetic activities were investigated in fronds of the aquatic fern Azolla microphylla Kaulf. The fronds were exposed to UV-B radiation intermittently once in 3 d during 12 d. Biomass and relative growth rate of UV-B treated Azolla plants and the heterocyst frequency of the UV-B treated symbiont decreased resulting in an increase in doubling time over the control. The doubling time was 3.08 d for control and 3.35 d for UV-B irradiated plants. Chl and carotenoid contents per unit fresh mass and photosystem 2 (PS2) activity also decreased under UV-B treatment. Measurements of photosynthetic activity in terms of fluorescence kinetics and PS2 mediated O2 evolution showed that the aquatic fern Azolla is sensitive to UV-B damage. and M. Jayakumar ... [et al.].
Four-d-old seedlings were exposed to ultraviolet-B, UV-B (20 pinol ht^), and UV-B supplemented with red, R {X 612 nin, 5 pmol nr^) or far-red, FR (X 712 nin, 4.5 pmol nr^) radiation for 30 min during the middle of tlie light phase. Three d of UV-B treatment caused reduction in shoot elongation and expansion of cotyledonaiy leaves. The reduction was largely reversed by supplementary R and FR radiations. Supplementation of FR accelerated senescence process. Similar changes were also noted in the contents of photosynthetic piginents, while the level of anthocyanin was enhanced by all treatments. Flavonoid accumulation was enhanced by UV-B, whereas R and FR radiations suppressed its synthesis to various degrees. The chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence ratio Fy/F,„ and half-rise time of maximum fluorescence were greatly reduced by UV-B and with FR supplementation. R reversed this UV-B inhibition to a great extent. Likewise, tlie P-S dechne was higher under control and +UV-B+R than under +UV-B and +UV-B+FR treatments, At the protein level both the subunits of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase alone were regulated by phytochrome. All these experiments indicated a possible role of phytochrome in regulating the UV-B induced changes in plant morphology and chloroplast proteins.