Abstract
The annual savanna grasses Chloris virgata (C4) and Tragus berteronianus (C3) and the tree Acacia tortilis were exposed in a greenhouse to elevated UV-B radiation (16.8 kJ m-2 d-1 UV-BBe) and to no UV-B and grown on a poor and a rich soil for one life-cycle (grasses) and one growing season (Acacia). UV-B radiation had no effect on biomass production and caryopses mass of both annual grasses. The longevity of the cotyledons of A. tortilis was shortened by 4 to 10 days under enhanced UV-B radiation, which also hampered the translocation of Fe, Mg and Mn from the cotyledons to the seedling and the retranslocation of Mn on both soil types and that of P on fertile soil out of senescent leaves. At the end of the growth period (190 days after germination), photosynthesis of UV-B radiated leaves of A. tortilis was significantly decreased and supported the tendency of decreased biomass of UV-B radiated plants. It is concluded that from the investigated savanna species the grasses are relatively well adapted to increased UV-B due to their actual exposure to high UV-B radiation under Botswana conditions, whereas saplings of A. tortilis are more sensitive to UV-B radiation.
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Ernst, W.H.O., van de Staaij, J.W.M., Nelissen, H.J.M. (1997). Reaction of savanna plants from Botswana on UV-B radiation. In: Rozema, J., Gieskes, W.W.C., Van De Geijn, S.C., Nolan, C., De Boois, H. (eds) UV-B and Biosphere. Advances in vegetation science, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5718-6_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5718-6_15
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