An association between past levels of ozone column depletion and abnormal pollen morphology in the model angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana L.

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Brian R. Murphy ; ^{murphb16@tcd.ie} ; Fraser J.G. Mitchell
• 关键词：ultraviolet-B irradiation ; ozone layer ; pollen abnormalities ; Arabidopsis thaliana ; mass extinction event
• 刊名：Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：15 July, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：194
• 期：Complete
• 页码：12-20
• 全文大小：2848 K

文摘

The currently reduced stratospheric ozone layer remains sensitive to destructive anthropogenic and natural inputs. We hypothesised that a sudden increase in surface ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation, as may have occurred in a past mass extinction event, would have a significant effect on the pollen grain morphology of the model angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana L. Plants of A. thaliana in controlled-environment chambers were exposed to an increase in UV-B irradiation associated with an ozone column reduction of 70 % . Pollen grains were examined with light and electron microscopy for morphological abnormalities. In this study, we found that a wild-type A. thaliana accession showed a significant increase in the proportion of pollen grain morphological abnormalities in response to the increase in UV-B irradiation. Plants exposed to normal daylight in early growth had less pollen morphological abnormalities when exposed to a subsequent increase in UV-B. Results here suggest that any future decrease in stratospheric ozone similar to that implicated in the end-Permian mass extinction event may increase angiosperm pollen morphological abnormalities, with uncertain and potentially negative consequences for plant reproductive success.