UV4Plants Bulletin

Light after death: The importance of spectral composition in litter decomposition processes

Marta Pieristè — 2020-09-13

Abstract of Marta Pieristè's PhD thesis "Light after death: The importance of spectral composition in litter decomposition processes" and short biography.

Light quality affects leaf pigments and leaf phenology

Craig C. Brelsford — 2020-09-13

Craig Brelsford

Light quality affects leaf pigments and leaf phenology

Meet-a-Member: Alenka Gaberščik

Marcel A. K. Jansen — 2020-09-13

Alenka Gaberščik interviewed by Marcel Jansen.

Meet-a-Member: Andy McLeod

Marcel A. K. Jansen — 2020-09-13

Andy McLeod interviewed by Marcel Jansen.

Letter from the president

Gareth I. Jenkins — 2020-09-13

The taste of UV light

Victor Castro-Alves — 2020-11-05

In greenhouses, crops are protected from adverse weather conditions allowing year-round production. However, this comes with a trade-off, which is the lack of UV-A and UV-B exposure. Excess of UV impairs plant growth and nutrient absorption, while lack of UV in greenhouses reduce the synthesis of metabolites associated with nutritional and sensorial quality of plants. Here, we provide insights into how the application of sensomics, an approach that combines top-down system biology approaches, such as metabolomics, with sensory science, can help to bridge the gap between plant science and horticultural quality.

High intensity UV-B and UV-A radiation from plasma lightsources

Stuart Mucklejohn — 2020-09-13

This article outlines Ceravision's research and development programs which led to the introduction of products for UV radiation for horticulture. The article includes a description of the Company's recent initiatives in greenhouse lighting with its research collaborators in the UK and Europe.

Absorbance, absorptance and friends

Pedro J. Aphalo — 2020-09-13

Most photobiologists sooner or later have to measure light absorption, reflection and/or transmission by objects such as plant leaves, optical filters or solutes in a liquid medium. The physical quantities we measure may vary: absorbance, optical density, absorptance, transmittance and reflectance. In addition to these extensive properties of objects we use intensive properties such as the molar extinction coefficient and refractive index. This article disusses the defintions of these quantities and exemplifies some of their uses in research in the field plant photobiology including the study and application of UV radiation. It also touches on some less frequently discussed alspects such as the effect of the angle of incidence on the reflectance at the surface of windows and optical filters.

Extraterrestrial and ground-level solar spectra

Pedro José Aphalo — 2020-09-13

This time the question answered relates to the extraterrestrial and ground-level solar spectra. One of ours readers noticed an error in a figure in a book, and asked how to draw a similar figure but avoiding this problem. We provide R code showing how to plot the figures and where to find the spectral data.

Reproducibility of UV-research with plants

Pedro José Aphalo — 2020-09-13

A discussion of the requirements for reproducibility of research. The focus is on experimental design and reporting of methods. The article is structured around frequently encountered problems and available solutions.

From the Editors' Desk

Pedro José Aphalo — 2020-09-13