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Exposure to ultraviolet‐B radiation increases cold hardiness in Rhododendron
Author(s) -
Dunning Chris A.,
ChalkerScott Linda,
Scott James D.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1994.tb08845.x
Subject(s) - browning , hardiness (plants) , ultraviolet b radiation , ultraviolet radiation , botany , horticulture , cold stress , ultraviolet , ericaceae , biology , chemistry , cultivar , radiochemistry , materials science , biochemistry , optoelectronics , gene
The change in the cold hardiness of Rhododendron (cv. English Roseum) following chronic exposure to ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation (280–320 nm) was studied. Leaf disks removed from UV‐B‐exposed plants exbibited a greater tolerance to freezing temperatures than plants that received no UV‐B exposure. Visual browning and percent phenolic leakage indicated that UV‐B‐exposed leaf disks were killed al ‐11°C. while control disks were killed at ‐8°C. Ultraviolet‐induced production of phenolic compounds may be involved in increasing cold hardiness of Rhododendron leaf tissues.