Journal of Plant Process and Function

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Since supplemental UV-B radiation can provide a simple and economical alternative to increase phenolic compounds in plants, we evaluated the dynamic biological responses of Alo vera L. plants to different UV-B doses (10 and 30 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹). The experiment was performed on the basis of Completely Randomize Design with 4 independent replications. Under high light conditions (600 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), UV-B radiation at 30 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹ caused significant damaging effects in the Alo plants in terms of leaf biomass. This reduction of leaf biomass coupled with lower values of photosynthetic performance index (PI_abs) as well as higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). However, when plants were grown at 10 kJ, UV-B-induced increase of proline and soluble sugar content was detected in Alo leaves.  In addition, plants treated with 10 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹ UVB dose manifested a significant phenol content enhancement compared to control plants. Most importantly, a significant correlation was obtained between accumulation of leaf phenolic compound and their antioxidant potential, when UV-B radiation was applied at 10 kJ. Our data suggest that an improved accumulation of phenolic compounds can be achieved when UV-B radiation is applied at 10 kJ within 21 days. This can be used to apply UV-B radiations to improve the nutritional quality of Alo leaves by increasing accumulation of phenolic compounds, without affecting the efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus.

 

Keywords: Alo vera L., phenol, photosynthetic performance, UVB

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