Enhanced UV‐B Radiation Increases Glyphosate Resistance in Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Depletion of the ozone layer leads to increasing UV‐B radiation on the earth's surface, which may affect weeds and their responses to herbicides. However, the effect of increased UV‐B radiation on weeds and the interaction of weeds and herbicides are still obscure. The objective of this study was to compare glyphosate efficacy on velvetleaf that was grown under with and without increased UV‐B radiation. Leaf area, dry weight and net photosynthesis of velvetleaf seedlings were adversely affected by increased UV‐B radiation. Leaf cuticle wax significantly increased by 28% under increased UV‐B radiation. Glyphosate efficacy on velvetleaf, evaluated by shoot dry weight, was significantly decreased by increased UV‐B radiation. Exposure to increased UV‐B radiation significantly decreased ¹⁴C‐glyphosate absorption from 49% to 43%, and also resulted in less ¹⁴C‐glyphosate translocation out of treated leaves and less glyphosate accumulation in newly expanded leaves. The decrease in glyphosate efficacy was due to changes in absorption and distribution, which were attributed to increased cuticle wax and decreased photosynthesis caused by increased UV‐B radiation. These results suggest that the responses of weeds to herbicides may be affected by increased UV‐B radiation, to the extent that higher rates may be required to achieve the desired effects.     

Assessment of Fatty Acid Profile and Seed Mineral Nutrients of Two Soybean (Glycine max L.) Cultivars Under Elevated Ultraviolet‐B: Role of ROS,Pigments and Antioxidants

Current scenarios under global climate change envisage a considerable increase in ultraviolet B (UV‐B) radiation in near future which may affect the productivity and yield quality of major agricultural crops. Present investigation was conducted to examine various defense strategies adopted against elevated UV‐B (ambient + 7.2 kJ mˉ² dayˉ¹) and their impact on seed nutrients, content and quality of oil including fatty acid profile of two soybean cultivars (JS‐335 and PS‐1042). Elevated UV‐B (eUV‐B) exposure leads toward higher unsaturation of fatty acids and changes in other oil quality parameters (acid, iodine and saponification value) indicated that eUV‐B favored the synthesis of long‐chain fatty acids with fewer carboxylic acid groups, making the oil rancid, with undesirable flavor and low nutritional value. The effect was more severe in JS‐335 as compared to PS‐1042. Negative effects were also seen on nutrients of soybean seeds. Adverse effects resulted due to insufficient quenching of ROS (superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide) by the defense system and thus unable to overcome the imposed oxidative stress. Credit of better performance by PS‐1042 against eUV‐B may be given to the adoption of efficient defense strategies like higher wax deposition, increase in lignin and flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol) contents.     

Intra‐strain Variability in the Effects of Temperature on UV‐B Sensitivity of Cyanobacteria

Stratospheric ozone depletion is mostly marked over the Antarctic and to a lesser extent over the Arctic, though recent reports have revealed that this also occurs at lower latitudes. Continued depletion of ozone in the lower stratosphere allows more UVR to reach the Earth's surface. Furthermore, it is projected that surface water temperatures will increase by between 0.2 and 2.0°C by the year 2060 and this will directly or indirectly influence algal growth. The interactions between environmental factors are complicated by the existence of different strains (ecotypes) of the same species that may respond differently. To understand the interactive effects of temperature and UV‐B on two strains of Anabaena circinalis, we investigated the damaging effects of UV‐B on cell numbers and photosynthetic characteristics and also examined the effect of temperature on the capacity of cells to recover from such stress. Both strains of A. circinalis responded differently in terms of survival, photosynthetic characteristics and recovery with interactions between temperature and UV‐B. This could be due to the variations in strain‐specific photoreactive mechanisms. This needs to be explored further including more strains and species before definitive conclusions can be reached about effects of global change on cyanobacteria generally.     

Effects of Enhanced UV‐B Radiation on Biochemical Traits in Postharvest Flowers of Medicinal Chrysanthemum

This article reported UV‐B radiation effects on biochemical traits in postharvest flowers of chrysanthemum. The experiment included six levels of UV‐B radiation (UV0, 0 μW cm^?2; UV50, 50 μW cm^?2; UV200, 200 μW cm^?2; UV400, 400 μW cm^?2; UV600, 600 μW cm^?2 and UV800, 800 μW cm^?2). Enhanced UV‐B radiation significantly increased hydrogen peroxide content (except for UV50), but did not evidently affect malondialdehyde content in flowers. Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content were significantly increased by UV600 and UV800. UV400 and UV600 significantly increased anthocyanins, carotenoids and UV‐B absorbing compounds content, and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase (C4H) over the control. 4‐coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) activity was significantly decreased by enhanced UV‐B radiation (except for UV50). The relationships between UV‐B radiation intensities and the activities of secondary metabolism enzymes were best described by a second‐order polynomial. The R² values for UV‐B radiation intensities and the activities of PAL, C4H and 4CL were 0.8361, 0.5437 and 0.8025, respectively. The results indicated that enhanced UV‐B radiation could promote secondary metabolism processes in postharvest flowers, which might be beneficial for the accumulation of medically active ingredients in medicinal plants. The optimal UV‐B radiation intensities in the study were between UV400‐UV600.     

The Effects of UV‐B Radiation Intensity on Biochemical Parameters and Active Ingredients in Flowers of Qi Chrysanthemum and Huai Chrysanthemum

The article studied UV‐B effects on biochemical parameters and active ingredients in flowers of Qi chrysanthemum and Huai chrysanthemum during the bud stage. The experiment included four UV‐B radiation levels (CK, ambient UV‐B; T1, T2 and T3 indicated a 5%, 10% and 15% increase in ambient UV‐B_BE, respectively) to determine the optimal UV‐B radiation intensity in regulating active ingredients level in flowers of two chrysanthemum varieties. Flower dry weight of two cultivars was not affected by UV‐B radiation under experimental conditions reported here. UV‐B treatments significantly increased the rate of superoxide radical production, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (except for T1) and malondialdehyde concentration in flowers of Huai chrysanthemum and H₂O₂ concentration in flowers of Qi chrysanthemum. T2 and T3 treatments induced a significant increase in phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme (PAL) activity, anthocyanins, proline, ascorbic acid, chlorogenic acid and flavone content in flowers of two chrysanthemum varieties, and there were no significant differences in PAL activity, ascorbic acid, flavone and chlorogenic acid content between the two treatments. These results indicated that appropriate UV‐B radiation intensity did not result in the decrease in flower yield, and could regulate PAL activity and increase active ingredients content in flowers of two chrysanthemum varieties.     

The Effects of Ambient Solar UV Radiation on Alkaloid Production by Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense†

Truxillines are alkaloids produced by Erythroxylum species and are thought to be derived from the UV‐driven dimerization of cinnamoylcocaines. This study was conducted to determine the effects of ambient UV radiation on the production of truxillines in Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense. Field plants were grown under shelters covered with plastic filters that were transparent to UV radiation, filtered UV‐B, or both filtered UV‐B and UV‐A radiation. The treatments had no significant effect on plant biomass or specific leaf weight. Absorption values in the UV‐C and UV‐A region of acidified‐methanol leaf extracts were higher for plants exposed to UV radiation compared to the no UV radiation treatment. There was a trend in decreasing levels of trans‐cinnamoylcocaine and a statistically significant decrease in levels of cis‐cinnamoylcocaine in the leaves of plants exposed to UV radiation compared to the no UV radiation treatment. Truxilline levels increased in leaves from plants exposed to UV radiation compared to the no UV radiation treatment. Most significantly, the ratio of truxillines to total cinnamoylcocaines in the leaves was affected by UV, increasing with increased UV exposure. The results support the hypothesis that UV radiation is involved in the formation of truxillines from cinnamoylcocaines.     

Proteomic Analyses of Changes in Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 Following UV‐C Stress

UV‐C's effects on the physiological and biochemical processes of cyanobacteria have been well characterized. However, the molecular mechanisms of cyanobacteria's tolerance to UV‐C still need further investigation. This research attempts to decode the variation in protein abundances in cyanobacteria after UV‐C stress. Different expression levels of proteins in the cytoplasm of Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 under UV‐C stress were investigated using a comparative proteomic approach. In total, 47 UV‐C‐regulated proteins were identified by MALDI‐TOF analysis and classified by Gene Ontology (GO). After studying their pathways, the proteins were mainly enriched in the groups of protein folding, inorganic ion transport and energy production. By focusing on these areas, this study reveals the correlation between UV‐C stress‐responsive proteins and the physiological changes of Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 under UV‐C radiation. These findings may open up new areas for further exploration in the homeostatic mechanisms associated with cyanobacteria responses to UV‐C radiation.     

Effects of PAR and UV‐B Radiation on Herbal Yield,Bioactive Compounds and Their Antioxidant Capacity of Some Medicinal Plants Under Controlled Environmental Conditions

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and Ultraviolet B (UV‐B) radiation are among the main environmental factors acting on herbal yield and biosynthesis of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of biologically effective UV‐B light (280–315 nm) and PAR (400–700 nm) on herbal yield, content and composition, as well as antioxidant capacity of essential oils and polyphenols of lemon catmint (Nepeta cataria L. f. citriodora), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under controlled greenhouse cultivation. Intensive UV‐B radiation (2.5 kJ m^?2 d^?1) influenced positively the herbal yield. The essential oil content and composition of studied herbs were mainly affected by PAR and UV‐B radiation. In general, additional low‐dose UV‐B radiation (1 kJ m^?2d^?1) was most effective for biosynthesis of polyphenols in herbs. Analysis of major polyphenolic compounds provided differences in sensitivity of main polyphenols to PAR and UV‐B radiation. Essential oils and polyphenol‐rich extracts of radiated herbs showed essential differences in antioxidant capacity by the ABTS system. Information from this study can be useful for herbal biomass and secondary metabolite production with superior quality under controlled environment conditions.     

Effects of Suplementary Ultraviolet‐B Irradiance on Maize Yield and Qualities: A Field Experiment¶

Stratospheric ozone depletion has caused an increase in the amount of ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation reaching the earth's surface. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that the effect of UV‐B enhancements on plants includes reduction in grain yield, alteration in species competition, susceptibility to disease and changes in plant structure and pigmentation. Many experiments examining UV‐B radiation effects on plants have been conducted in growth chambers or greenhouses. It has been questioned whether the effect of UV‐B radiation on plants can be extrapolated to field responses from indoor studies because of the unnaturally high ratios of UV‐B/ ultraviolet‐A radiation (320–400 nm) and UV‐B/photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in many indoor studies. Field studies on UV‐B radiation effect on plants have been recommended to use the UV and PAR irradiance provided by natural light. This study reports the growth and yield responses of a maize crop exposed to enhanced UV‐B radiation and the UV‐B effects on aize seed qualities under field conditions. Enhanced UV‐B radiation caused a significant reduction in the dry matter accumulation and the maize yield in turn was affected. With increased UV‐B radiation the flavonoid accumulation in maize leaves increased and the contents of chlorophyll a, b and (a+b) of maize leaves were reduced. The levels of protein, sugar and starch of maize seed decreased with enhanced UV‐B radiation, whereas the level of lysine increased with enhanced UV‐B radiation.     

硝普钠对镧胁迫下黑麦草幼苗叶片碳氮代谢和抗氧化系统的影响

为了探讨一氧化氮(NO)对镧胁迫下牧草生理响应的调节作用,采用水培方法,研究了NO供体硝普钠(SNP)对300μmol.L-1LaCl3胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长、碳氮代谢和抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明:LaCl3胁迫下,喷施50μmol.L-1SNP能显著缓解幼苗生物量的下降,提高叶片超氧化物歧化酶和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性,降低超氧阴离子(O2.-)产生速率及H2O2和丙二醛含量;促进可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质积累,提高二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶、磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶、内肽酶和羧肽酶活性。表明NO可通过提高活性氧清除能力,维持碳氮代谢正常运转,从而缓解LaCl3胁迫对黑麦草生长的抑制作用。     

Effect of CO2 Laser Radiation on Physiological Tolerance of Wheat Seedlings Exposed to Chilling Stress

To determine the effect of CO₂ laser pretreatment of wheat seeds on the physiological tolerance of seedlings to chilling stress, wheat seeds were exposed to CO₂ laser radiation for 300 s. After being cultivated for 48 h at 25°C, the wheat seedlings were subjected to chilling stress for 24 h. Selected physiological and biochemical parameters were measured in 6-day-old seedlings. We observed that chilling stress enhanced the concentrations of malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione while decreasing the activities of nitric oxide synthase, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and the concentrations of nitric oxide and glutathione in the wheat leaves compared with controls. When the chilling stress was preceded by CO₂ laser irradiation, the concentrations of malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione were decreased while the activities of nitric oxide synthase, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and the concentrations of nitric oxide and glutathione increased. Furthermore, chilling stress decreased the biomass, biophoton intensity and GHS/GSSG ratios of seedlings while these parameters increased when the seedlings were treated with CO₂ laser irradiation prior to the chilling stress. The results suggest that a suitable dose of CO₂ laser stimulation can enhance the physiological tolerance of wheat seedlings to chilling stress.     

Effects of CO2 laser pretreatment on drought stress resistance in wheat

In order to determine the role of laser in drought stress resistance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), seed embryos were exposed to CO2 laser radiation for 0min, 1min, 3min and 5min, respectively, and when the seedlings were 12 days old they were treated with 10% (w/v) PEG6000 solution for 10 days. Changes in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), glutathione (GSH), ascorbate (AsA), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), carotenoid, zeaxanthin, the production rate of superoxide radical (O2(-)), the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the growth parameters of seedlings (plant height, leaf area and dry weight) were measured to test the effects of laser pretreatment. The results showed that suitable laser pretreatment of embryos enhanced drought stress resistance in wheat seedlings by decreasing the concentration of MDA and H2O2, GSSG, the production rate of O2(-), leaf area and increasing the activities of APX, GST, GP and POD and AsA, carotenoid and zeaxanthin concentration. It is suggested that those changes in MDA, O2(-) H2O2, anti-oxidative enzymes and anti-oxidative compounds were responsible for the increase in drought stress resistance observed in the experiments. The results also showed that the laser had a long-term positive physiological effect on the growth of drought stress seedlings. This is the first investigation reporting the use of CO2 laser pretreatment to enhance drought stress resistance of spring wheat.     

Microwave treatment of eight seconds protects cells of Isatis indigotica from enhanced UV-B radiation lesions

To determine the role of microwaves in the stress resistance of plants to enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, Isatis indigotica Fort. seeds were subjected to microwave radiation for 8 s (wavelength 125 mm, power density 1.26 mW mm(-2), 2450 MHz). Afterwards they were cultivated in plastic pots in an artificial-glass greenhouse maintained at 25 degrees C, 70% relative humidity, and 400 micromol mol(-1) CO2, under visible-light conditions of 1500 micromol m(-2) s(-1) for 8 h day(-1). When the seedlings were 10 days old, they were subjected to 10.08 kJ m(-2) UV-B (PAR: 220 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) radiation for 8 days. Changes in a number of physiological and biochemical characteristics and in the thermal decomposition enthalpy of biomass were measured and used as indicators of the protective capacity of microwave radiation in this experiment. Our results revealed that microwave pretreatment of seeds enhanced UV-B stress resistance in the seedlings by decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid (AsA) and UV-B-absorbing compounds, increasing the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and increasing the energy accumulation of photosynthesis. All these results suggest that microwave radiation enhances plant metabolism and results in increased UV-B stress resistance. This is the first investigation reporting the use of microwave pretreatment to protect the cells of Isatis indigotica from UV-B-induced lesions.     

The effects of UV radiation A and B on diurnal variation in photosynthesis in three taxonomically and ecologically diverse microbial mats

Photosynthetic primary production, the basis of most global food chains, is inhibited by UV radiation. Evaluating UV inhibition is therefore important for assessing the role of natural levels of UV radiation in regulating ecosystem behavior as well as the potential impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on global ecosystems. As both photosynthesis and UV fluxes are subject to diurnal variations, we examined the diurnal variability of the effect of UV radiation on photosynthesis in three diverse algal mats. In one of the mats (Cyanidium caldarium) a small mean decrease in primary productivity over the whole day occurred when both UVA and UVB were screened out. In two of the mats (Lyngbya aestuarii and Zygogonium sp.) we found a mean increase in the total primary productivity over the day when UVB alone was screened and a further increase when UVA and UVB were both screened out. Variations in the effects of UV radiation were found at different times of the day. This diurnal variability may be because even under the same solar radiation flux, there are different factors that may control photosynthetic rate, including nutritional status and other physiological processes in the cell. The results show the importance of assessing the complete diurnal productivity. For some of the time points the increase in the mean was still within the standard deviations in primary productivity, illustrating the difficulty in dissecting UV effects from other natural variations.     

Photolyases and Cryptochromes in UV‐resistant Bacteria from High‐altitude Andean Lakes

“High‐altitude Andean Lakes” (HAAL) are pristine environments harboring poly‐extremophilic microbes that show combined adaptations to physical and chemical stress such as large daily ambient thermal amplitude, extreme solar radiation levels, intense dryness, alkalinity, high concentrations of arsenic (up to 200 ppm) and dissolved salts. In this work, we compared the UV resistance profiles, pigment content and photoreactivation abilities of three UV‐resistant bacteria isolated from distinct niches from HAALs, that is Acinetobacter sp. Ver3 (water, Lake Verde; 4400 m), Exiguobacterium sp. S17 (stromatolite, Lake Socompa, 3570 m) and Nesterenkonia sp. Act20 (soil, Lake Socompa, 3570 m). UV resistance ability of HAAL's strains indicate a clear adaptation to high radiation exposure encountered in their original habitat, which can be explained by genetic and physiological mechanisms named as the UV‐resistome. Thus, the UV‐resistome depends on the expression of a diverse set of genes devoted to evading or repairing the damage it provoked direct or indirectly. As pigment extraction and photoreactive assays indicate the presence of photoactive molecules, we characterized more in detail proteins with homology to photolyases/cryptochromes members (CPF). Phylogenetic analyses, sequence comparison and 3D modeling with bona fide CPF members were used to prove the presence of functional domains and key residues in the novel proteins.     

Effects of PAR and UV Radiation on the Structural and Functional Integrity of Phycocyanin,Phycoerythrin and Allophycocyanin Isolated from the Marine Cyanobacterium Lyngbya sp. A09DM

An in vitro analysis of the effects of photosynthetically active and ultraviolet radiations was executed to assess the photostability of biologically relevant pigments phycocyanin (PC), phycoerythrin (PE) and allophycocyanin (APC) isolated from Lyngbya sp. A09DM. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiances significantly affected the integrity of PC, PE and APC; however, PAR showed least effect. UV radiation affected the bilin chromophores covalently attached to phycobiliproteins (PBPs). Almost complete elimination of the chromophore bands associated with α‐ and β‐subunit of PE and APC occurred after 4 h of UV‐B exposure. After 5 h of UV‐B exposure, the content of PC, PE and APC decreased by 51.65%, 96.8% and 96.53%, respectively. Contrary to PAR and UV‐A radiation, a severe decrease in fluorescence of all PBPs was observed under UV‐B irradiation. The fluorescence activity of extracted PBP was gradually inhibited immediately after 15–30 min of UV‐B exposure. In comparison to the PC, the fluorescence properties of PE and APC were severely lost under UV‐B radiation. Moreover, the present study indicates that UV‐B radiation can damage the structural and functional integrity of phycobiliproteins leading to the loss of their ecological and biological functions.     

Irradiation of Skin and Contrasting Effects on Absorption of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Compounds

Increasing legal requirements for risk assessment and efficacy testing in the dermo-cosmetic field have led to the development of alternative test methods. In this study, the porcine skin model was chosen to test the effect of irradiation on the penetration habits of UV filters and caffeine. For decades, the pig has been recognized as an experimental animal in biomedical research thanks to its morphological and physiological similarities to humans. In this study, we wanted to investigate the effect of UV irradiation on the absorption of octocrylene (OC) and benzophenone-3 (B3) sunscreens used under those circumstances and a model hydrophilic molecule, caffeine (Caf). These particular compounds were chosen due to their different lipophilic profiles. The percutaneous penetration of the two UV filters and Caf was studied after two simulated solar radiation doses of 61.4 kJ m⁻². After irradiation simulation, the total absorbed dose was increased for OC while for B3 and Caf it was lower. Thus, modifications in percutaneous absorption have been observed, and it appears that UV could play a crucial role in this process. Moreover, it has been observed that the lipophilic profile of the studied compounds affects percutaneous penetration when irradiated.     

Regulation of photosynthesis, fluorescence, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) under drought

Drought is the major abiotic stress factor that causes extensive losses to agriculture production worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of photosynthesis and water-use efficiency parameters in 15 cowpea genotypes under well-watered and drought condition. Photosynthesis (A) and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv'/Fm') declined linearly with decreasing soil water content whereas intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) increased under drought stress, suggesting stomatal regulation was a major limitation to photosynthesis. However, under increasing drought conditions, increase in ratio of intercellular CO(2) to ambient CO(2) concentrations along with reduced WUE showed the role of non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis. The resistant nature of Fv'/Fm' and electron transport rate under drought appeared to be important mechanisms for photoinhibition protection under drought stress. Oxidative stress was apparent due to drought-induced reduction in total chlorophyll and carotenoid which was accompanied with increased leaf wax contents. The accumulation of proline appeared to be in response of drought injury rather than a drought tolerance mechanism. A clear separation based on the genotypes site of origin among the genotypes for drought tolerance could not be established when analyzed using principal component analysis. The identified genotypes and physiological traits from this study may be useful for genetic engineering and breeding programs integrating drought adaptation in cowpea.     

Drought Stress Effects on Growth,ROS Markers,Compatible Solutes,Phenolics, Flavonoids,and Antioxidant Activity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amaranthus tricolor</Emphasis>

Four selected Amaranthus tricolor cultivars were grown under four irrigation regimes (25, 50, 80, and 100% field capacity) to evaluate the mechanisms of growth and physiological and biochemical responses against drought stress in randomized complete block design with three replications. Drought stress led to decrease in total biomass, specific leaf area, relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll ab), and soluble protein and increase in MDA, H₂O₂, EL, proline, total carotenoid, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. However, responses of these parameters were differential in respect to cultivars and the degree of drought stresses. No significant difference was observed in control and LDS for most of the traits. The cultivars VA14 and VA16 were identified as more tolerant to drought and could be used for further evaluations in future breeding programs and new cultivar release programs. Positively significant correlations among MDA, H₂O₂, compatible solutes, and non-enzymatic antioxidant (proline, TPC, TFC, and TAC) suggested that compatible solutes and non-enzymatic antioxidant played vital role in detoxifying of ROS in A. tricolor cultivar. The increased content of ascorbic acid indicated the crucial role of the ASC–GSH cycle for scavenging ROS in A. tricolor.     

Fracture surfaces and tensile properties of UV‐irradiated spider silk fibers

A study of the influence of UV radiation on the tensile properties of spider silk has shown that the shape of the stress–strain curves is not affected by 254‐nm irradiation, except for a significant decrease in the tensile strength and strain at breaking. This decrease has been found in both forcibly silked and maximum‐supercontracted fibers, despite the different initial alignments of the protein chains. Local damage is also induced by UV radiation. With this procedure, it is possible to recover and analyze fracture surfaces. These show different granular microstructures that are characteristic of fibers spun from a solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 786–793, 2007