Induction of early light-inducible protein gene expression in Pisum sativum after exposure to low levels of UV-B irradiation and other environmental stresses

Plants are constantly subjected to environmental changes and have developed various defence mechanisms to facilitate their continued existence. Pisum sativum plants were exposed to low levels of UV-B radiation and ELIP (early light-inducible proteins) mRNA, with a probable protective function, was rapidly and strongly induced during this type of stress. To our knowledge, this is the only photosynthetic gene that is up-regulated following exposure to UV-B, and this result has to be compared with studies predominantly reporting down-regulation by UV-B of genes encoding proteins localised in the plastid. The expression pattern of ELIP mRNA in pea was also investigated during salt, wounding and ozone stress. The transcript levels of ELIP were induced after the salt and wounding treatments but not during ozone fumigation.