UV-B and UV-A radiation are natural components of solar radiation that can cause plant stress, as well as induce a range of acclimatory responses mediated by photoreceptors. UV-mediated accumulation of flavonoids and glucosinolates is well documented, but much less is known about UV effects on carotenoid content. Carotenoids are involved in a range of plant physiological processes, including photoprotection of the photosynthetic machinery. UV-induced changes in carotenoid profile were quantified in plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) exposed for up to ten days to supplemental UV radiation under growth chamber conditions. UV induces specific changes in carotenoid profile, including increases in antheraxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin and lutein contents in leaves. The extent of induction was dependent on exposure duration. No individual UV-B (UVR8) or UV-A (Cryptochrome or Phototropin) photoreceptor was found to mediate this induction. Remarkably, UV-induced accumulation of violaxanthin could not be linked to protection of the photosynthetic machinery from UV damage, questioning the functional relevance of this UV response. Here, it is argued that plants exploit UV radiation as a proxy for other stressors. Thus, it is speculated that the function of UV-induced alterations in carotenoid profile is not UV protection, but rather protection against other environmental stressors such as high intensity visible light that will normally accompany UV radiation.

UV-B radiation can substantially impact plant growth. To study UV-B effects, broadband UV-B tubes are commonly used. Apart from UV-B, such tubes also emit UV-A wavelengths. This study aimed to distinguish effects of different UV-B intensities on Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype and UVR8 mutant rosette morphology, from those by accompanying UV-A. UV-A promotes leaf-blade expansion along the proximal–distal, but not the medio-lateral, axis. Consequent increases in blade length: width ratio are associated with increased light capture. However, petiole length is not affected by UV-A exposure. This scenario is distinct from the shade avoidance driven by low red to far-red ratios, whereby leaf blade elongation is impeded but petiole elongation is promoted. Thus, the UV-A mediated elongation response is phenotypically distinct from classical shade avoidance. UV-B exerts inhibitory effects on petiole length, blade length and leaf area, and these effects are mediated by UVR8. Thus, UV-B antagonises aspects of both UV-A mediated elongation and classical shade avoidance. Indeed, this study shows that accompanying UV-A wavelengths can mask effects of UV-B. This may lead to potential underestimates of the magnitude of the UV-B induced morphological response using broadband UV-B tubes. Graphical abstract

Plants are continuously exposed to combinations of abiotic and biotic stressors. While much is known about responses to individual stressors, understanding of plant responses to combinations of stressors is limited. The effects of combined exposure to drought and UV radiation are particularly relevant in the context of climate change. In this study it was explored whether UV-exposure can be used as a tool to prime stress-resistance in plants grown under highly protected culture conditions. It was hypothesised that priming mint plantlets (Mentha spicata L.) with a low-dose of UV irradiance can alleviate the drought effect caused by a change in humidity upon transplanting. Plants were grown for 30 days on agar in sealed tissue culture containers. During this period, plants were exposed to ~ 0.22 W m⁻² UV-B for 8 days, using either UV-blocking or UV- transmitting filters. Plants were then transplanted to soil and monitored for a further 7 days. It was found that non-UV exposed mint plants developed necrotic spots on leaves, following transfer to soil, but this was not the case for plants primed with UV. Results showed that UV induced stress resistance is associated with an increase in antioxidant capacity, as well as a decrease in leaf area. UV-induced stress resistance can be beneficial in a horticultural setting, where priming plants with UV-B can be used as a tool in the production of commercial crops.

In plants, secondary metabolites change in response to environmental conditions. These changes co-regulate resilience to stressful environmental conditions, plant growth and development, and interactions between plants and the wider ecosystem, while also affecting soil carbon storage and atmospheric and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the association between UV exposure and the contents of key metabolites, including amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols. Mentha spicata plantlets were grown in tissue culture boxes for 30 days and then exposed to a low dose of broadband UV-B (291–315 nm; 2.8 kJm⁻² biologically effective UV) enriched light for eight days. Metabolite contents were quantified either immediately after the final UV exposure, or after seven days of recovery under photosynthetically active radiation. It was found that UV promoted the production of flavonoids (1.8-fold) ahead of phenolic acids (unchanged). Furthermore, the majority of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, constituents of valuable mint essential oil, were significantly increased through UV treatment (up to 90-fold for α-linalool). In contrast, the contents of carotenoids and tocopherols did not increase following UV exposure. A comparison between plants sampled immediately after UV exposure and after seven days of recovery showed that there was an overall increase in the content of carotenoids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, phenolics, and amino acids following recovery, while the contents of sterols and tocopherols decreased. These UV-induced changes in metabolite profile may have important consequences for agriculture, ecology, and even the global climate, and they also provide an exciting opportunity to enhance crop value, facilitating the development of improved products with higher levels of essential oils and added benefits of enhanced flavour, colour, and bioactive content.

In vitro culturing can generate plants with a distorted morphology. Some distortions affect the plant’s survival after transfer to an ex vitro environment, while others can affect the aesthetic value. Therefore, exogenous hormones are often applied in in vitro cultures to modulate plant architecture. In this study, it was hypothesised that regulatory effects of UV-B radiation on plant morphology can be exploited under in vitro conditions, and that UV exposure will result in sturdier, less elongated plants with more branches and smaller leaves, mediated by changes in plant hormones. Plants were grown in tissue-culture containers and exposed to ~0.22 W m⁻² UV-B for 8 days. Subsequently, plants were transferred to soil and monitored for a further 7 days. Results show that UV induced a marked change in architecture with a significant increase in axillary branches, and reductions in leaf area, plant height and root weight. These changes were associated with significant alterations in concentrations of hormones, including IAA, GA7, GA3 and iP–9–G. Changes in hormone concentrations suggest a regulatory, rather than a stress response to UV-B. Therefore, it is proposed that the application of UV in in vitro culture can be an innovative approach to manipulate plant architecture.

The estimated increase in the world population to 9.7 billion by 2050 and the increased frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change will put further pressure on world food supply. This emphasises the need to optimise all agricultural techniques. Indoor farming provides novel opportunities to efficiently manipulate crop production by the control of key environmental parameters such as light, temperature, and water availability, which normally vary depending on the local weather and season. While there is extensive information concerning the manipulation of visible wavelengths and the consequent effects on growth and crop quality, there is less practical information on the exploitation of UV wavelengths for crop manipulation. Recent advances in UV Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) technology have further expanded these possibilities, providing innovative tools for precise spectral control of plant architecture, flavour, and stress resistance. By using appropriate UV‐LEDs and optical components, a homogenously illuminated area of the desired size can be obtained, while avoiding light pollution and increasing LED energy efficiency further. This review explores the emerging potential of UV‐LEDs but also serves as a practical guide to the different UV sources that can be employed in controlled‐environment agriculture. It discusses important technical considerations for selecting single‐wavelength LEDs, along with current limitations in LED performance.