Effects of enhanced ultraviolet B irradiation on selected leguminous plants

Abstract

Sun is the primary source of energy for all surface phenomena and life on the Earth. Solar light is one of the important necessities of life without which life is not possible on the Earth. Terrestrial life evolved only after the formation of stratospheric ozone (O3) layer that absorbed most of the damaging UV-B radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons have been mainly implicated for the depletion of O3 shield. Consequently, terrestrial levels of UV-B radiation are increasing with potentially deleterious effects on living being including plants. UV-B at enhanced level can result in a wide variety of morphological, physiological and biochemical alterations in plants, leading to reduction in growth and yield. Sensitivity to enhanced UV-B, however, varies with crop species, cultivar, UV-B dose, developmental stage, PAR level and other environmental conditions. newline