Mpoloka, S.W.(Academic Journals, www.academicjournals.org, August 18, 2010)
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Abstract:
Residual long-term effects of increased UV-B radiation were investigated in an indigenous plant
species, Dimorphotheca sinuata, by analysing photosynthetic gene expression. Reductions were
observed in the amount of the rbcL and psbA mRNA expressed in progeny of plants that were
previously subjected to enhanced UV-B levels. However, observed reductions did not attain statistical
significance. This could explain the reduction in net biomass and physiological and biochemical
parameters observed by other researchers as a result of UV-B exposure. Results from this study with
plants grown in the absence of UV-B point to changes in the regulation of photosynthetic genes and such mutations due to raised UV-B levels could cause permanent changes in plant populations.