Effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on the distribution of mineral elements in soybean (Glycine max) seedlings

In order to understand the effect of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on plant, the accumulated amount of dry matter and the distribution of the mineral elements in the different organs of soybean seedlings treated with UV-B radiation were investigated using the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results indicated that the accumulated amount of dry matter in root, stem and leaf of soybean seedlings treated with UV-B radiation during the stress and recovery period was lower than that of the control soybean. Moreover, the content of macroelements in the root, stem and leaf of soybean seedlings during the stress period and recovery period were decreased comparing with that of the control soybean. The change in the contents of microelements depended on the intensity of UV-B radiation, the organs of soybean and the treating period. Finally, the results from the stepwise regression analysis indicated that the content of specific microelements also affected the accumulation of dry matter in the soybean seedlings treated with UV-B radiation comparing with the contents of macroelements in the control soybean. The relationship between the contents of mineral elements and the accumulation of dry matter depended on the intensity of UV-B radiation and the organs of soybean. These results demonstrated that UV-B radiation induced the change in the distribution of mineral elements in root, stem and leaf, leading to the decrease in the accumulation of dry matter and then the inhibition of soybean growth. It was a possible effect mechanism of UV-B radiation on plant.