UV-B 증가가 식물의 생장에 미치는 영향과 식물의 생화학적 방어반응을 조사하고자 오이를 이용하여 3단계의 UV-B[일일 평균 $UV-B_{BE}$; 무처리(0.03), 저UV-B(6.42), 고UV-B(11.30) $kJ;m^{-2}$] 조사 실험을 수행하였다. UV-B 강도가 증가함에 따라 오이식물에 극심한 생육억제, chlorophyll 감소 및 황백화현상이 나타났다. AsA 및 GSH 함량은 UV-B 강도가 증가함에 따라 감소하는 경향을 보였으나, MDA 함량과 DHA/AsA 및 GSSG/GSH의 비율은 크게 증가하였다. 또한 항산화효소인 SOD, AP, DHAR, GP 등의 활성도 UV-B 조사에 의해 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 UV-B 증가에 의해 오이 식물에 활성산소 생성에 의한 산화스트레스가 일어나며, 이를 무독화하기 위해 식물의 생화학적 방어반응이 작용하는 것으로 사료된다.
To investigate the effects of different UV-B levels on growth and biochemical defense response in plants, cucumber plants were subjected to three levels of biologically effective ultraviolet-B $(UV-B_{BE})$ radiation [daily dose: 0.03 (No), 6.40 (Low) and $11.30;(High);kJ{cdot}m^{-2}$, $UV-B_{BE}$] in the growth chambers for 3 weeks during the early growth period. Enhanced UV-B radiation drastically decreased both dry weight and leaf area of cucumber. With increasing UV-B intensity, chlorophyll content was decreased, however the level of malondialdehyde was highly increased linearly. Total contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione were tended to increase by UV-B, while the ratios of dehydroascorbate/ascorbate and oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione were significantly increased with increasing UV-B intensity in cucumber. All the enzyme activities investigated (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, guaiacol peroxidase etc.) in cucumber were increased by the UV-B enhancement. These results suggested that enhanced UV-B irradiation caused photooxidative stress in cucumber plant and resulted in significant reduction in plant growth. Biochemical protection responses might be activated to prevent the leaves from damaging effects of oxidative stress generated by UV-B irradiation.
