Jwm. Vandestaaij et al., ULTRAVIOLET-B (280-320 NM) ABSORBING PIGMENTS IN THE LEAVES OF SILENEVULGARIS - THEIR ROLE IN UV-B TOLERANCE, Journal of plant physiology, 147(1), 1995, pp. 75-80
The UV-B radiation tolerant perennial herb Silene vulgaris was tested
on the influence of incident UV-B fluxes during growth on the synthesi
s of UV-B absorbing pigments in the leaves. Analysis of methanolic lea
f extracts showed a stimulating effect of UV-B on the absorbing abilit
y of leaf extracts. HPLC analysis made clear that UV-B radiation stimu
lated extractable flavonoid concentrations in leaves, but that UV-B ab
sorption could only be partly attributed to these flavonoids. The cont
ribution of flavonoids to UV-B absorption diminishes if plants mature.
Other possible functions of flavonoids in plants growing under elevat
ed UV-B conditions are discussed.