Short-term UV-B radiation affects photosynthetic performance and antioxidant gene expression in highbush blueberry leaves

• Highest UV-B dose decreased Pn in Bluegold and reduced effective quantum yield and electron transport rate.
• Brigitta had better photosynthetic performance and increased superoxide dismutase activity at early hours of UV-B stress.
• Bluegold was UV-B sensitive and Brigitta UV-B resistant at short-term.
• Ascorbate peroxidase gene expression was not directly involved in the UV-B response of highbush blueberry.

The impact of increased artificial UV-B radiation on photosynthetic performance, antioxidant and SOD activities and molecular antioxidant metabolism responses in leaves of two highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. Brigitta and Bluegold) genotypes was studied. Plants were grown in a solid substrate and exposed to 0, 0.07, 0.12 and 0.19 W m−2 of biologically-effective UV-B irradiance for 0–72 h. Our findings show that net photosynthesis (Pn) decreased significantly in Bluegold, accompanied by a reduction in the effective quantum yield (ФPSII) and electron transport rate (ETR), especially at the highest UV-B irradiation. On the other hand, Brigitta showed a better photosynthetic performance, as well as a clear increment in the antioxidant activity response that could be associated with increased superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in the early hours of induced UV-B stress in all treatments. At the molecular level, the expression of the three antioxidant genes evaluated in both genotypes had a similar tendency. However, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) expression was significantly increased (6-fold) in Bluegold compared to Brigitta. Thus, the reduction of Pn concomitant with a lower photochemical performance and a reduced response of antioxidant metabolism suggest that the Bluegold genotype is more sensitive to UV-B radiation, while Brigitta appears to tolerate better moderate UV-B irradiance in a short-term experiment.