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Long-term exposure to enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation in the sub-arctic does not cause oxidative stress in Vaccinium myrtillus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 1998

E. TAULAVUORI ,
M. BÄCKMAN ,
K. TAULAVUORI ,
D. GWYNN-JONES ,
U. JOHANSON ,
K. LAINE ,
T. CALLAGHAN ,
M. SONESSON  and
L. O. BJÖRN
E. TAULAVUORI
Affiliation:
Department of Biology/Botany, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 333, FIN-90571, Oulu, Finland
M. BÄCKMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 7, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
K. TAULAVUORI
Affiliation:
Department of Biology/Botany, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 333, FIN-90571, Oulu, Finland
D. GWYNN-JONES
Affiliation:
Sheffield Centre for Arctic Ecology, 26 Taptonville Road, Sheffield S10 5BR, UK Abisko Scientific Research Station, Abisko, S-98107, Sweden
U. JOHANSON
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, University of Lund, P.O. Box 117, S-22100, Lund, Sweden
K. LAINE
Affiliation:
Department of Biology/Botany, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 333, FIN-90571, Oulu, Finland
T. CALLAGHAN
Affiliation:
Sheffield Centre for Arctic Ecology, 26 Taptonville Road, Sheffield S10 5BR, UK Abisko Scientific Research Station, Abisko, S-98107, Sweden Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362, Lund, Sweden
M. SONESSON
Affiliation:
Abisko Scientific Research Station, Abisko, S-98107, Sweden Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362, Lund, Sweden
L. O. BJÖRN
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, University of Lund, P.O. Box 117, S-22100, Lund, Sweden
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Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess whether or not oxidative stress had developed in a dwarf shrub bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) under long-term exposure to enhanced levels of ultraviolet-B (u.v.-B) radiation. The bilberry plants were exposed to increased u.v.-B representing a 15% stratospheric ozone depletion for seven full growing seasons (1991–1997) at Abisko, Swedish Lapland (68°N). The oxidative stress was assessed on leaves and stems by analysing ascorbate and glutathione concentrations, and activities of the closely related enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2). The affects of autumnal leaf senescence and stem cold hardening on these variables were also considered. The results showed that the treatment caused scarcely any response in the studied variables, indicating that u.v.-B flux representing a 15% ozone depletion under clear sky conditions is not sufficient to cause oxidative stress in the bilberry. It is suggested that no strain was evoked since adaptation was possible under such u.v.-B increases. The studied variables did, however, respond significantly to leaf senescence and especially to stem cold hardening.

Keywords

Antioxidantsbilberrycold hardeningu.v.-B radiationVaccinium myrtillus L.
Type
Research Article
Information
The New Phytologist , Volume 140 , Issue 4 , December 1998 , pp. 691 - 697
Copyright
© Trustees of New Phytologist 1998

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