Intra- and inter-specific comparisons of leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration of southern broadleaf trees in the United States

Increased concentration of leaf UV-B absorbing-compounds due to exposure to UV-B radiation is widely accepted as one of the plant adaptations to resist enhanced UV-B radiation. This paper reports a field comparative study of dynamics and temporal changes of UV-B absorbing-compound concentration in 35 southern broadleaf trees over a growing season. Leaf UV-B absorbing-compound, chlorophyll concentration, and leaf thickness were measured from the sun-exposed leaves of 35 tree species collected monthly from individual trees growing within the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana from April to October in 2000. The USDA UV-B Monitoring Network Baton Rouge Station provided the ambient UV-B radiation data. Leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration varied significantly with leaf age and species. Intra-specifically, leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration exhibited a generally increasing trend during leaf growth and development in response to the increased exposure to natural UV-B/solar radiation during the growing season. Inter-specifically, significant differences existed in leaf UV-B absorbing-compound concentration. The species were compared and ranked based on the growing season averages of the leaf total UV-B absorbing-compound concentration. The species were further classified into three levels (high, medium, and low) based on the magnitude of UV-B absorbing-compound concentration.