TY - JOUR

T1 - Ambient UV-B radiation reduces PSII performance and net photosynthesis in high Arctic Salix arctica

AU - Albert, Kristian R.

AU - Mikkelsen, Teis N.

AU - Ro-Poulsen, Helge

AU - Arndal, Marie F.

AU - Michelsen, Anders

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Ambient ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation potentially impacts the photosynthetic performance of high Arctic plants. We conducted an UV-B exclusion experiment in a dwarf shrub heath in NE Greenland (74°N), with open control, filter control, UV-B filtering and UV-AB filtering, all in combination with leaf angle control. Two sites with natural leaf positions had ground angles of 0° ('level site') and 45° ('sloping site'), while at a third site the leaves were fixed in an angle of 45° to homogenize the irradiance dose ('fixed leaf angle site'). The photosynthetic performance of the leaves was characterized by simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements and the PSII performance through the growing season was investigated with fluorescence measurements. Leaf harvest towards the end of the growing season was done to determine the specific leaf area and the content of carbon, nitrogen and UV-B absorbing compounds. Compared to a 60% reduced UV-B irradiance, the ambient solar UV-B reduced net photosynthesis in Salix arctica leaves fixed in the 45° position which exposed leaves to maximum natural irradiance. Also a reduced Calvin Cycle capacity was found, i.e. the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), and the PSII performance showed a decreased quantum yield and increased energy dissipation. A parallel response pattern and reduced PSII performance at all three sites indicate that these responses take place in all leaves across position in the vegetation. These findings add to the evidence that the ambient solar UV-B currently is a significant stress factor for plants in high Arctic Greenland.

AB - Ambient ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation potentially impacts the photosynthetic performance of high Arctic plants. We conducted an UV-B exclusion experiment in a dwarf shrub heath in NE Greenland (74°N), with open control, filter control, UV-B filtering and UV-AB filtering, all in combination with leaf angle control. Two sites with natural leaf positions had ground angles of 0° ('level site') and 45° ('sloping site'), while at a third site the leaves were fixed in an angle of 45° to homogenize the irradiance dose ('fixed leaf angle site'). The photosynthetic performance of the leaves was characterized by simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements and the PSII performance through the growing season was investigated with fluorescence measurements. Leaf harvest towards the end of the growing season was done to determine the specific leaf area and the content of carbon, nitrogen and UV-B absorbing compounds. Compared to a 60% reduced UV-B irradiance, the ambient solar UV-B reduced net photosynthesis in Salix arctica leaves fixed in the 45° position which exposed leaves to maximum natural irradiance. Also a reduced Calvin Cycle capacity was found, i.e. the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and the maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), and the PSII performance showed a decreased quantum yield and increased energy dissipation. A parallel response pattern and reduced PSII performance at all three sites indicate that these responses take place in all leaves across position in the vegetation. These findings add to the evidence that the ambient solar UV-B currently is a significant stress factor for plants in high Arctic Greenland.

KW - JIP test

KW - Jmax

KW - Photoinhibition

KW - Plant stress

KW - Stomatal conductance

KW - UV-B exclusion

KW - Vcmax

U2 - 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2011.08.003

DO - 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2011.08.003

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:80052451849

VL - 73

SP - 10

EP - 18

JO - Environmental and Experimental Botany

JF - Environmental and Experimental Botany

SN - 0098-8472

ER -