Washington, DC
November 13, 2007
Plants, like humans, suffer from
increased exposure to the sun's rays. Scientists have discovered
a unique feature of genes in corn that are affected by exposure
to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Understanding how UV radiation
affects corn at the genetic level will help scientists develop
methods and approaches to help plants protect themselves from
the harmful effects of UV-B radiation.
As the ozone layer decreases and the amount of UV-B radiation
reaching the Earth's surface increases, the ability to breed
UV-B tolerant agricultural plants will lessen the harmful
impacts on agricultural plant production and sustainability,
which is crucial in this crop of agricultural and bioenergy
importance. This new knowledge will improve crop growth,
production and yield.
Plants utilize sunlight during photosynthesis and,
consequentially, are exposed to UV radiation, the same rays
responsible for sunburn in humans. UV radiation varies by
altitude and season, and the recent decrease in the ozone layer
allows an even greater percentage of the rays (specifically the
UV-B rays) to reach the Earth's surface. UV radiation damages
plant DNA and reduces physiological processes, such as plant
growth, reproduction and photosynthesis. Plants adapt to the
presence of UV-B, but very little is known about the mechanisms
used to sense and respond to UV-B radiation.
Ann E. Stapleton and colleagues at the
University of North Carolina at
Wilmington and Stanford
University exposed growing corn plants to UV-B radiation for
different lengths of time over a single day. The time course
study allowed the researchers to identify common controls for
sets of genes that were affected when corn leaves were exposed
to UV-B radiation. The identified genes were also linked to
plant behavior and structure.
The identified plant genes provide key information on plant
control of gene expression responses to UV-B radiation.
The research is presented in the November issue of
Plant
Biotechnology Journal.
The USDA's Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
funded this research project through the National Research
Initiative (NRI) Plant Biology program. The NRI is the largest
peer reviewed, competitive grants program in CSREES. It supports
research, education and extension grants that address key
problems of national, regional and multi-state importance in
sustaining all components of agriculture.
CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment,
human health and well-being, and communities by supporting
research, education and extension programs in the Land-Grant
University System and other partner organizations. For more
information, visit
www.csrees.usda.gov.
By Stacy Kish |
|
