Effects of Ultraviolet-B Irradiances on Soybean

Soybean plants (cv. Hardee) were grown from seed under four ultraviolet-B radiation flux densities and four photosynthetically active radiation levels in a factorial design. Net photosynthesis, dark respiration, and transpiration were measured after 2 and 6 weeks of exposure. Effects of ultraviolet-B radiation were dependent upon photosynthetically active radiation levels. Ultraviolet-B radiation adversely affected net photosynthesis at low photosynthetically active radiation levels, but had little consequence at levels normally saturating photosynthesis in the field. Ultraviolet-B radiation affected both stomatal and nonstomatal resistances to carbon dioxide under low levels of photosynthetically active radiation. The present study demonstrates interactions between ultraviolet-B and photosynthetically active radiation.