The effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on stomatal conductance (g(s)
) in pea (Pisum sativum L.), commelina (Commelina communis L.), and oilseed
rape (Brassica napus L.) plants were investigated. Plants were grown in a
greenhouse either with three different high ratios of UV-B to photosyntheti
cally active radiation or with no UV-B radiation. Pea plants grown in the h
ighest UV-B radiation (0.63 W m(-2)) exhibited a substantial decrease of ad
axial and abaxial g(s) (approximately 80% and 40%, respectively). With grow
th in 0.30 W m(-2) of UV-B adaxial g(s) was decreased by 23%, with no effec
t on abaxial g(s), and lower UV-B irradiance of 0.21 W m(-2) had no effect
on either surface. Although abaxial g(s) increased when leaves were turned
over in control plants, it did not in plants grown with the highest UV-B. A
daxial g(s) in commelina and oilseed rape also decreased on exposure to hig
h UV-B (0.63 W m(-2)). For previously unexposed pea plants the time course
of the effect of UV-E on g(s) was slow, with a lag of approximately 4 h, an
d a time constant of approximately 3 h. We conclude that there is a direct
effect of UV-B on stomata in addition to that caused by changes in mesophyl
l photosynthesis.