Morphological responses of Arabidopsis thaliana wild type and photoreceptor genotypes to narrowband UV radiation generated by LEDs

TL;DR

This study explores how Arabidopsis plants adjust their leaf structure in response to different UV wavelengths using specialized light sensors called photoreceptors.

Contribution

The study reveals that UVR8, cryptochromes, and phototropins regulate plant responses to both UV-A and UV-B light through overlapping signaling roles.

Findings

UV-B strongly inhibits petiole elongation, mediated by UVR8, with phototropins and cryptochromes counteracting this effect.

Short UV-A wavelengths cause petiole dwarfing via UVR8, while cryptochromes reduce this effect.

Longer UV-A wavelengths involve both phototropins and cryptochromes, with opposing effects on petiole elongation.

Abstract

Sensing and responding to light signals are critical factors for plant survival. Plants have photoreceptors which coordinate morphological responses through divergent yet overlapping signalling networks. This study aims to identify how Arabidopsis thaliana fine‐tunes its architecture in response to different wavelengths of UV radiation.Using narrow wavelength UV‐emitting LEDs, in combination with a set of photoreceptor genotypes, enabled investigation of photoreceptor‐dependent effects on leaf morphology. Eight Arabidopsis genotypes, including wildtype Col‐0, uvr8‐6, cry1, cry2, cry1cry2, phot1, phot2 and phot1phot2, were exposed to ~45 μW cm−2 narrowband UV, with emission peaks at 310, 325, 340 or 365 nm.(a) UV‐B wavelengths have a strong inhibitory effect on petiole elongation, with modest effects on leaf blade width and area. (b) Inhibitory effects of narrowband UV‐B on petiole elongation are mediated by UVR8. Phototropins and cryptochromes antagonise this effect, implying that these photoreceptors perceive and mediate responses to UV‐B. (c) Short wavelength UV‐A also induces dwarfing of petioles, but not leaf blades, and this is mediated by UVR8. Cryptochromes impede dwarfing under short wavelength UV‐A. (d) Longer wavelength UV‐A responses are mediated by both phototropins and cryptochromes, with opposing effects on petiole elongation. (e) Although no UVR8‐mediated morphological effect was measured under longer UV‐A wavelengths, UVR8 affects gene expression throughout the UV‐A and UV‐B spectral zones.UVR8, cryptochromes and phototropins are all active across all UV‐B and UV‐A wavelengths, controlling multiple interactive morphological and/or gene expression effects.

Sensing and responding to light signals are critical factors for plant survival. Plants have photoreceptors which coordinate morphological responses through divergent yet overlapping signalling networks. This study aims to identify how Arabidopsis thaliana fine‐tunes its architecture in response to different wavelengths of UV radiation.

Using narrow wavelength UV‐emitting LEDs, in combination with a set of photoreceptor genotypes, enabled investigation of photoreceptor‐dependent effects on leaf morphology. Eight Arabidopsis genotypes, including wildtype Col‐0, uvr8‐6, cry1, cry2, cry1cry2, phot1, phot2 and phot1phot2, were exposed to ~45 μW cm−2 narrowband UV, with emission peaks at 310, 325, 340 or 365 nm.

(a) UV‐B wavelengths have a strong inhibitory effect on petiole elongation, with modest effects on leaf blade width and area. (b) Inhibitory effects of narrowband UV‐B on petiole elongation are mediated by UVR8. Phototropins and cryptochromes antagonise this effect, implying that these photoreceptors perceive and mediate responses to UV‐B. (c) Short wavelength UV‐A also induces dwarfing of petioles, but not leaf blades, and this is mediated by UVR8. Cryptochromes impede dwarfing under short wavelength UV‐A. (d) Longer wavelength UV‐A responses are mediated by both phototropins and cryptochromes, with opposing effects on petiole elongation. (e) Although no UVR8‐mediated morphological effect was measured under longer UV‐A wavelengths, UVR8 affects gene expression throughout the UV‐A and UV‐B spectral zones.

UVR8, cryptochromes and phototropins are all active across all UV‐B and UV‐A wavelengths, controlling multiple interactive morphological and/or gene expression effects.

Arabidopsis photoreceptor mutants exposed to narrowband UV radiation reveal that UVR8, cryptochromes and phototropins are active across both the UV‐B and UV‐A spectrum; regulating leaf morphology and/or gene expression through overlapping yet distinct signalling roles.

Figures