Growth and development responses to UV-B exclusion in crops

UV-B radiation affects crop plants. Growing interest has been shown in studying the effects of UV-B radiation exclusion on crops since 1993. This article summarized the general consequences of UV-B radiation exclusion on crop plants from the aspacts of plant morphology, growth and development. UV-B exclusion has promoting effects on plant height, internode and leaf size. UV-B exclusion increases root biomass and stimulates nodulation of legume crops with increased number and size of nodules and enhances the leghemoglobin. Higher levels of ?-tocopherol is found in UV-B plants, which plays an important role in translocating photoassimilates from the leaves to the roots. UV-B exclusion could be a useful tool for physiologists and molecular biologists to further address mechanisms involved in UV-B radiation damage in crop plants.