Abstract

UVB INDUCED CHANGES IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS OF MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT PLANT SIMAROUBA GLAUCA DC.

Patil Sarika S.* and D. K. Gaikwad

ABSTRACT

Simarouba glauca is medicinally important oil yielding evergreen tree which is environmentally sturdy. In the present study the 6h/day and10h/day UVB irradiation treatments of 4, 8,12and16days were applied to one year old seedlings. While control plants were kept in normal sunlight. It was noticed that, at 6h per day of UVB irradiation for 4, 8,12and 16days of treatment the chlorophyll content was significantly elevated, while at 10h per day of UVB irradiation for 4,8,12and 16 days treatments the chlorophyll content was decreased. The content of flavonoids and anthocyanins were significantly increased at 6h and 10h per day UVB irradiation treatments, which will be helpful for effective development of UVB protective mechanism. Simarouba plant can tolerate the UVB up to 6h/day irradiation and with its green foliage, it can be utilized for the development of UVB protection green belts in future.

Keywords: Photosynthetic pigments, UVB radiation.