The effects of UV-B radiation on the seedling growth, carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidants activities of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were investigated under environmentally controlled chamber. Supplementary UV­B radiation reduced dry matter as well as leaf area, there­fore, relative growth rates (RGR) of seedlings were decreased by up to half compared to control. Photosynthetic products such as soluble sugars and starch were rapidly and significantly reduced by within 1 day of enhanced UV-B radiation due to the inhibition and degradation of photosynthetic processes and thylakoid membrane integrity. In our study, nonstructural carbohydrate levels were proved to be a main indicator on UV-B­induced stress. The behavior of SOD, CAT, APX and POD activities was monitored in the leaves of rice seedlings subjected to UV-B radiation. Under UV-B treatments, SOD activity was initially increased, whereas CAT and POD activities were slowly and slightly increased. However, APX activity showed no presumable results with an increase of UV-B dose. In leaves of rice seedlings, supplementary UV-B radiation caused an increase in free putrescine and spermidine, however spermine remained unaltered, although 24-hrs UV-B treatment slightly increased. This result presumes that an excess UV-B dose may induce ethylene biosynthesis (senescence) rather than polyamine biosynthesis (defense).

This study was conducted to examine the physiological and biochemical responses against UV-B radiation in the seedling of 15 different rice cultivars, having the different physiological sensitivities. Out of 15 rice cultivars tested, moderate and susceptible groups showed significant decreases in biomass and RGR (relative growth rate). Contents of total chlorophyll were reduced remarkedly by irradiation of UV-B. In all rice cultivars tested, the content of chlorophyll a was strongly decreased, while the contents of chlorophyll b were slightly reduced without showing clear different among three groups and 15 cultivars. Carotenoid content was largely reduced by UV-B radiation, whereas polyamine content was moderately increased. The contents of MDA (malondialdehyde) that reflect the level of lipid peroxidation of cell membranes were clearly increased by UV-B stress, showing higher content in susceptible cultivars than moderate and torelant cultivars. The physiological important parameters highly related to visible injury were leaf color, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and lipid peroxidation, whereas biomass and polyamines were not closely correlated. Based on this results, it was concluded that changes of visible injury and the contents of chlorophyll and MDA could be adequately applied and utilized as physiological indicators to UV-B radiation

In order to investigate low molecular antioxidants synthesized by enhanced UV-B radiation, we used the seedlings of two rice varieties. Woonjangbyeo, UV-tolerant, and Hwajoongbyeo, UV-susceptible, were subjected under supplemental UV-B irradiation. When rice seedlings were irradiated with UV light for short period, biosynthesis of total phenolic compound, ascorbate and glutathione were momently reduced. With an increase of UV-B radiation, however, those were slightly synthesized. The content of lipid peroxides in UV-challenged rice leaves was considerably increased after 12 hrs of UV-B treatment. Lipoxygenase activity under supplemental UV-B radiation was differently responded on rice varieties.

To determine whether the enhanced UV-B causes oxidative stress, and to test the relationship between plant growth response and biochemical defense response to UV-B, two soybean plants, Keunolkong, a highly UV-B susceptible cultivar, and Danyeubkong, a less UV-B susceptible cultivar, were subjected to the enhanced UV-B [daily dose : 0.06 (control) and 11.32 (enhanced UV-B) kJ m^-2 ; UV-B_BE] for 3 weeks. Contents of malondialdehyde and total carotenoid were increased in Keunolkong compared with Danyeubkong by UV-B. In control plants, ascorbate level of Danyeubkong was 3 times higher than that of Keunolkong. The ratio of dehydroascorbate/ascorbate was highly increased in Keunolkong by UV-B. The activities of antioxidative enzyme such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase were increased in both cultivars by UV-B. This results indicate that enhanced UV-B caused oxidative stress in both two cultivars, especially in Keunolkong. Susceptibility of two soybean cultivars to UV-B is closely related to the levels of antioxidants such as carotenoid and ascorbate.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of enhanced UV-B on growth and differential responses among cultivars in soybean. The soybean cultivars subjected to enhanced UV-B irradiation at daily dose of 11.32 kJ m^-2(UV-B_BE) revealed that the growth was significantly depressed. Plant height, leaf number, leaf area and dry weight were inhibited by UV-B irradiation showing differential responses among cultivars used. Danyeubkong seems to be less sensitive to the enhanced UV-B irradiation, while Keunolkong more sensitive. Reduction of chlorophyll content was also found significantly greater to Keunolkong. Specific leaf weight, an index of leaf thickness, and flavonoid content known as UV-absorbing compounds were significantly increased in Danyeubkong by UV-B, but those in the other cultivars were not significantly affected. The results indicated that there are cultivar differences in the growth and physiological responses to the enhanced UV-B irradiation and specific leaf weight and UV-absorbing compounds in the leaves were highly related to the sensitivity of soybean by UV-B irradiation.