Ultraviolet Radiation From a Plant Perspective: The Plant-Microorganism Context

Area of Science:

• Plant science
• Microbiology
• Environmental science

Background:

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, encompassing UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C bands, significantly influences plant physiology and microbial communities.
• UV radiation alters species-specific interactions between plants and microorganisms, affecting plant morphogenesis, phototropism, and defense mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the physiological and molecular effects of UV radiation on plants, microorganisms, and their interactions.
• To explore the potential applications of UV radiation for controlling pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing existing research on UV radiation effects.
• Analysis of direct and indirect mechanisms of UV radiation impact on plants and microbes.

Main Results:

• UV-A and UV-B primarily affect plant morphogenesis and phototropism, while UV-B and UV-C strongly induce secondary metabolite production.
• Short-wave UV radiation (<350 nm) directly damages microorganisms via DNA damage and enzyme inactivation, and indirectly through UV-B-specific plant defense pathways.
• UV-C radiation is highly effective at lower doses for microbial inactivation but can also cause plant damage.

Conclusions:

• UV radiation exerts diverse effects on plants and microorganisms, with distinct impacts from different UV bands.
• UV radiation can be utilized for microbial control, either directly or indirectly by enhancing plant specialized metabolites.
• Understanding UV radiation's complex interactions is crucial for optimizing its application in agriculture and environmental management.