An association between past levels of ozone column depletion and abnormal pollen morphology in the model angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana L.

作者：Murphy Brian R^*; Mitchell Fraser J G

来源：Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2013, 194: 12-20.

DOI：10.1016/j.revpalbo.2013.03.003

• ultraviolet-B irradiation
• ozone layer
• pollen abnormalities
• Arabidopsis thaliana
• mass extinction event

The currently reduced stratospheric ozone layer remains sensitive to destructive anthropogenic and natural inputs. We hypothesised that a sudden increase in surface ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation, as may have occurred in a past mass extinction event, would have a significant effect on the pollen grain morphology of the model angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana L Plants of A. thaliana in controlled-environment chambers were exposed to an increase in UV-B irradiation associated with an ozone column reduction of 70%. Pollen grains were examined with light and electron microscopy for morphological abnormalities. In this study, we found that a wild-type A. thaliana accession showed a significant increase in the proportion of pollen grain morphological abnormalities in response to the increase in UV-B irradiation. Plants exposed to normal daylight in early growth had less pollen morphological abnormalities when exposed to a subsequent increase in UV-B. Results here suggest that any future decrease in stratospheric ozone similar to that implicated in the end-Permian mass extinction event may increase angiosperm pollen morphological abnormalities, with uncertain and potentially negative consequences for plant reproductive success.

• 出版日期2013-7-15