Seasonal fluctuations in the concentration of UV-absorbing compounds in the leaves of some Mediterranean plants under field conditions

Leaves of 14 representative Mediterranean plant species were collected on a monthly basis and assayed for UV-absorbing compounds concentration, either on an area or a dry mass basis, from 1995 to 1997, Strong seasonal fluctuations were observed in eight species tall evergreens, two phrygana, one deciduous, one summer perennial and one winter perennial). Two different patterns of changing concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds were observed. In the first, concentration of these compounds was higher in young developing leaves and concentration declined during maturation, whereas in other plants, the opposite trend was observed. These differences could be attributed to the particular leaf surface morphology of each plant. The observed seasonal fluctuations of UV-absorbing compounds seem to be more correlated to developmental processes, than to seasonal fluctuations of the naturally occurring UV-B radiation. Most of the winter perennials did not show strong fluctuations during the period of development. The concentration of these compounds varied not only on a seasonal basis among the examined plants, but between different life forms as well: during winter, examination of the leaves of 13 species showed that evergreen sclerophylls and phrygana had at least two-fold higher concentration of UV-B-absorbing compounds on a leaf area basis than winter perennials. In addition, during the same season and irrespective of life form and species, the absorbance at 300 nm per unit of mature leaf area followed an asymptotic exponential decrease when specific leaf area increased. The UV-B radiation screening capacity of the leaves of these plants is discussed in relation to each adaptive strategy

The ability of abaxial and adaxial epidermis of sun and shade leaves to attenuate UV-A and UV-B radiation in relation to the UV absorbing capacity of the whole leaf methanolic extracts

The UV-absorbing capacity (measured as A(310) cm(-2) and A(365) cm(-2) or AUVR cm(-2)) of the shade leaves of four representative evergreen sclerophylls of the Mediterranean region (Quercus coccifera, Q. ilex, Arbutus andrachne and A. unedo) was considerably lower than the corresponding one of sun leaves of the same species. However, fibre optic microprobe measurements showed that adaxial as well as abaxial epidermis of shade leaves of all examined plants, except abaxial epidermis of A. andrachne, were almost as effective as the corresponding ones of the sun leaves in screening out most of the incident UV-B radiation. There is probably a threshold, under which the concentration of the UV-B absorbing compounds in the protective tissues is not furthermore reduced, in spite of the low levels of the stress factor (UV-B radiation) in the environment. On the other hand, the ability of both abaxial and adaxial epidermis to attenuate UV-A radiation, except of adaxial leaf epidermis of Quercus species, depended on the UV absorbing capacity of the whole-leaf extracts, with different correlation patterns between the two Quercus species and the two Arbutus species. This could be explained by the fact that shade leaves showed not only quantitative, but also qualitative differences (higher A(310)/A(365) ratio) in the absorbance of their methanolic extracts compared to these of sun leaves. The results of the present study showed that we should not always correlate the depth of penetration of UV radiation into sun and shade leaves according to the corresponding UV absorbing capacity of the whole leaf methanolic extracts, without taking into account all the anatomical, developmental and biochemical (such as different composition and distribution of the UV-absorbing compounds among the different protective tissues) peculiarities of the leaves of each species

Numerical validation of a self absorption model for optically thick plasmas

Numerical validation of a self absorption model for high-pressure plasma-based light sources was discussed. It was assumed that the plasma is cylindrically symmetric. The side-on intensity emitted at wavelength ¿ along a plasma diameter perpendicular to the axis was considered. This intensity was given by the one-dimensional solution to the radiation transfer equation. The results are independent of the existence of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and are valid for the resonance lines too

UV-B protective potential and flavonoid content of leaf hairs of Quercus ilex

Flavonoids of non-glandular leaf hairs from Quercus ilex were analysed. The main compounds were acylated kaempferol glycosides. Acylation shifted the absorption peak into the ultraviolet-B region of the spectrum in which intact trichome layers absorbed strongly. Ultraviolet-B radiation caused a considerable reduction of photosystem II photochemical efficiency only in dehaired leaves. It is suggested that leaf hairs, besides other roles, may function as an effective filter against the harmful ultraviolet-B radiation. © 1994

UV-B protective potential and flavonoid content of leaf hairs of Quercus ilex

Flavonoids of non-glandular leaf hairs from Quercus ilex were analysed. The main compounds were acylated kaempferol glycosides. Acylation shifted the absorption peak into the ultraviolet-B region of the spectrum in which intact trichome layers absorbed strongly. Ultraviolet-B radiation caused a considerable reduction of photosystem II photochemical efficiency only in dehaired leaves. It is suggested that leaf hairs, besides other roles, may function as an effective filter against the harmful ultraviolet-B radiation. © 1994