Red: far-red light ratio and UV-B radiation: their effects on leaf phenolics and growth of silver birch seedlings

The natural variation in quantity and quality of light modifies plant morphology, growth rate and concentration of biochemicals. The aim of two growth-room experiments was to study the combined effects of red (R) and far-red (FR) light and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on the concentrations of leaf phenolics and growth and morphology of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the leaves exposed to supplemental FR relative to R contained higher concentrations of total chlorogenic acids and a cinnamic acid derivative than the leaves treated with supplemental R relative to FR. In contrast, concentration of a flavonoid, quercetin 3-galactoside, was higher in the R + UV-B leaves than in the FR + UV-B leaves. The UV-B induced production of kaempferols, chlorogenic acids and most quercetins were not modified by the R :FR ratio. Growth measurements showed that the leaf petioles and stems of FR seedlings were clearly longer than those of R seedlings, but leaf area was reduced by UV-B radiation. Results of these experiments show that exposure of silver birch seedlings to supplemental FR compared to R leads to fast elongation growth and accumulation of phenolic acids in the leaves.