Assessing plants exposed to low temperature and high UV-B

Task 5.1: A range of commercially-important plant traits (photosynthetic performance, leaf area, biomass, pigment content, flowering time and seed yield) will be assessed following SM application to lower temperature (16oC to 4oC) and medium to high dose UV-B treatments (3-10 µmol m-2 s-1), both in isolation and in combination. [UB] As these compounds may affect the plant’s heat and drought stress tolerance at warmer temperatures, this will be analysed too. [UA-SILS] The model species Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco will be tested alongside selected horticultural crops and cereals such as barley (as a fast monocot) and pepper (which is particularly sensitive to abiotic stresses). [PRB] Molecular mechanisms underlying these responses will be investigated via analysis of key transcripts, proteins and lipid second messengers.