Effect of UV -B radiation on seedlings of two Solidago virgaurea populations from the Mt. Hakusan area of Japan

We collected seeds of Solidago virgaurea plants growing at different altitudes on the Mt Hakusan area in Japan and cultivated them in a naturally-lit green house. Three-week-old seedlings were irradiated with supplemental UV-B for 12 h each day for 1 and 2 weeks. After a week of itradiation the seedlings of the population collected from the higher altitude at Oh-nanjiho (ON) had accumulated more anthocyanins than those from the lower altitude at Bettoh-deai (BD). Levels of anthocyanins in the ON seedlings were highly correlated with the dose of UV-B radiation and the correlation was also observed after 2 weeks. The growth of the third leaves was retarded by UV-B radiation in both populations. The extent of growth retardation in the third leaves was correlated with the dose of UV -B radiation in both populations. However, no significant difference in the extent of leaf area growth was observed between the ON and BD populations. The increase in plant fresh weight was extensively inhibited in the ON seedlings after 1 week of UV-B radiation. The inhibition was recovered to those in the BD population by 2 weeks irradiation. These results indicate that these populations respond differentially to supplementary UV -B radiation during the first week. Because flavonoids such as anthocyanins play an important role in protection against UV-B radiation in many plants, populations growing at higher altitude may be better able to adapt to increased global levels of UV-B radiation.