Ultraviolet absorption capacity of Sphagnum species from Norwegian peatlands
- Gonzalo Soriano 1
- Gabriel Fabón 1
- Laura Monforte 1
- Ana Séneca 2
- Lars Söderström 3
- Javier Martínez-Abaigar 1
- Encarnación Núñez-Olivera 1
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1
Universidad de La Rioja
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2
Universidade Do Porto
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3
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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ISSN: 1132-8029
Datum der Publikation: 2013
Nummer: 40-41
Seiten: 1-10
Art: Artikel
Andere Publikationen in: Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Briología
Zusammenfassung
The bulk level of ultraviolet-absorbing compounds (UVAC) has been analyzed in 8 moss species of the genus Sphagnum collected in Norwegian peatlands, differentiating the methanol-soluble (SUVAC) and methanol-insoluble cell wall-bound (WUVAC) fractions. These WUVAC data are the first obtained in Sphagnum. All the species studied showed low values of SUVAC, WUVAC and Total UVAC (the sum of both fractions) per dry mass in comparison with other bryophytes. Thus, Sphagnum is a peculiar genus within bryophytes also regarding UVAC. These low values suggest that photophilous Sphagnum species would be adapted to high UV levels through additional or alternative mechanisms, although it remains to be confirmed if UVAC values are equally low when calculated per unit of chlorophyll. Clear interspecific differences in UVAC values among the 8 studied species were observed, but they were not related to either the genus sections, the relative position of chlorocysts and hyalocysts in the leaves, or the light requirements of the different species as indicated by the Ellenberg values for light (although the most sciophilous species showed lower values of SUVAC, WUVAC and Total UVAC). More studies using a higher number of species from different locations and ecological conditions should be undertaken to understand the genetic and environmental factors responsible for those interspecific differences.