Internal filters: Prospects for UV‐acclimation in higher plants

Abstract

Wavelength‐selective absorption of solar radiation within plant leaves allows penetration of visible radiation (400–700 nm) to the chloroplasts, while removing much of the damaging ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B, 280–320 nm) radiation. Flavonoids are important in this wavelength‐selective absorption. Induction of flavonoid synthesis by solar radiation, and specifically by UV‐B radiation, is discussed as this relates to the potential acclimation of plants to enhanced solar UV‐B radiation that would result from stratospheric ozone reduction.