Effect of UV-B radiation on growth and antioxidative enzymes activity in Lithuanian potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars

The impact of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on most cultivated plants is negative. It reduces plant height and leaf area, increases leaf thickness and affects plant growth and development. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of UV-B on growth, photosynthetic pigments in potato cultivars and determine the activity of antioxidative enzymes in response mechanisms to the UV-B. Five Lithuania-bred potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars (three early, one medium and one late) were studied. The plants were treated with a UV-B radiation dose of 6 kJ m(-2) d(-1). The research demonstrated that after the UV-B exposure the plant height of early potato cultivars reduced. However, fresh and dry biomass of leaves, the concentrations of chlorophylls a,b and carotenoids in potato cultivars remained unchanged after UV-B exposure compared to the control. Increased activity of antioxidative enzymes in potato cultivars after the UV-B radiation suggested an active plant response to UV-B-induced stress which depended on the plant genotype.