Beyond the visible A handbook of best practice in plant UV photobiology

210 Pages·08.189 MB·English

by  Pedro J. Aphalo

Beyond the Visible
A handbook of best practice in
plant UV photobiology
edited by
Pedro J. Aphalo
with
Andreas Albert Lars Olof Björn
Andy R. McLeod T. Matthew Robson
Eva Rosenqvist

COST Action FA0906
Beyond the visible
A handbook of best practice in plant UV photobiology

COST action F0906 ‘UV4growth’
Beyond the visible
A handbook of best practice in plant UV photobiology
Edited by
Pedro J. Aphalo
with
Andreas Albert Lars Olof Björn Andy McLeod T. Matthew Robson Eva Rosenqvist
©COSToffice2012
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This book may be cited as: COST Action FA0906 — Beyond the visible: A handbook of best practice in plant UV
photobiology.
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Fullcitation:
Aphalo, P. J.; Albert, A.; Björn, L. O.; McLeod, A.; Robson, T. M.; Rosenqvist, E. (eds.) 2012. Beyond the visible: A
handbookofbestpracticeinplantUVphotobiology. COSTActionFA0906UV4growth. Helsinki: UniversityofHelsinki,
DivisionofPlantBiology. ISBN978-952-10-8362-4(Paperback),978-952-10-8363-1(PDF).xxx+176pp.
Firstedition,firstprinting: November2012.
PublishedbytheUniversityofHelsinki,DepartmentofBiosciences,DivisionofPlantBiology,Helsinki,Finland.
PaperbackeditionprintedthroughCreateSpaceIndependentPublishingPlatform
ISBN-13: 978-952-10-8362-4(Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-952-10-8363-1(PDF)
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v

Foreword
Thediscoveryofthethinningofthestratosphericozone withactionspectrathatarenotalwaysappropriate. Con-
layerinthe1980s,andsubsequentmeasurementsofin- sequent variations in applied dose and spectrum have
creasedpenetrationofUV-Binthebiosphere,triggered affectedthereproducibilityofresearchacrossdifferent
extensiveresearchinthephotobiologyofUVradiation. laboratories,andhavesometimesnecessitatedextensive
Initially,thecentralaimofresearchwastoassesstheim- trialling to repeat published data. A related issue con-
pactsofincreasesinUV-Bradiationonvariousorganisms cernstheextrapolationoflaboratorydata,generatedin-
andecosystems. Morerecently,thequestionhowcurrent doorsusingartificialUVsourcesand/orfiltrationset-ups,
levelsofUVaffectlife-processeshasbecomeincreasingly tomoreecologicallyrelevantscenarios.Thereisnodoubt
important. SeveraldecadesofUVresearchhavenowled thatindoorexperimentation,underratherunnaturalcon-
to a much more detailed understanding of the, rather ditions,hasgeneratedconceptuallycriticalinformation
broad, impacts of UV on plant, microbial and animal about UV-perception, and UV-mediated signalling and
life. Emphasishasgraduallyshiftedawayfromastress- genetranscription. Nevertheless,oneimportantlesson
dominatedview(sunburninhumansandfarmanimals; learntfromthreedecadesofplantUV-researchisthat
macroscopicdamageandgrowthinhibitioninplants)to timespentondevisinganexperimentalset-upthatisas
amorebalancedvisionwhichalsoincludesmanysubtle, “environmentallysound”asfeasible,istimewellspent
regulatory UV-effects. For example, many vertebrates (climatechangebiologists,pleasetakenote!).
gatherinformationfromUVwavelengthswhichtheycan Thisbookentitled“Beyondthevisible: Ahandbookof
perceiveduetotheirtetrachromaticcolourvision. Birds bestpracticeinplantUVphotobiology”isanimportant
appeartouseUVwavelengthsfororientationandnav- contributiontowardssuchsoundexperimentaldesign,
igation,whilebothbirdsandlizardshaveUV-reflective promoting both “good practice” in UV-B manipulation,
featuresthatplayaroleinmatechoice. Severalrodents, aswellas“standardisation”ofmethodologies. Writing
includinghousemice,canperceiveUV-light,whiletheir an authoritative book that will steer experimental ap-
urinefluorescesunderUV,consequentlyithasbeensug- proachesoverthecomingyears,cannoteasilybedoneby
gestedthattheserodentsmayuseUVcuesforintraspe- anindividual,butratherrequirestheconcertedeffortof
cific signalling. Another mammal able to perceive UV ateamofexpertscientists. Icommendthemainauthor,
wavelengthsisthereindeer,whichisthoughttoobtain Dr.PedroJ.Aphalo,whoassembledateamofleadingUV-
informationfromdifferentialUVreflectionsofArcticve- scientists,andIcongratulatealltheauthorsonatextthat
getation. Plantsarenottobeleftoutofthiswonderful isbothaccessibleaswellasin-depth. Ialsogratefully
(for human’s invisible) UV world: One of the most im- acknowledge the financial support of COST (European
portantdiscoveriesinplantUV-Bbiologyhasbeenthe Cooperation in Science and Technology), who through
identification of a specific UV-B photoreceptor. Thus, COSTActionUV4Growth(FA0906)madeitpossiblefor
plantsalso“see”UV-Bandtheso-calledUVR8photore- the main authors to meet, coordinate and write. This
ceptorhas,amongothers,beenimplicatedincontrolling issurelyanexcellentexampleofaconcerted,European-
thedevelopmentofplantmorphologyinUV-Bexposed wideactivitythatwillboosttheplantUV-Bresearchfield
plants. inEuropeandbeyond,foryearstocome.
NotwithstandingthesefascinatingadvancesinUVbio- Happyreading,
logy, the development of an overarching vision on the
biologicalroleofUVwavelengthsremainselusive. This
ispartlyduetotheuseofaratherdiverserangeofUV- Cork,August2012 Dr.MarcelA.K.Jansen
exposureandquantificationtechnologies,incombination Chair,COSTActionUV4Growth
vii