Interactive effects of ozone and low UV-B radiation on antioxidants in spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles.

To study the role of low UV-B radiation in modulating the response of antioxidants to ozone, 4-year-old pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) seedlings potted in natural soil, were exposed in phytochambers to fluctuating ozone concentrations between 9 and 113 nl 1-1 according to field data recorded at Mt Wank (1175 m above sea level, Bavaria, Germany) and two-times ambient O3 levels. UV-B radiation was either added at a biologically effective level of ca 1.2 kJ m-2 day-1 , which is close to that found in March at Mt Wank, or was excluded by filters (<0.08 kJ m-2 day-1 ). After one growth phase current-year needles were collected and analysed for antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD, EC 1.15.1.1; catalase, CAT, EC 1.11.1.6; guaiacol peroxidase, POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and soluble antioxidants (ascorbate, glutathione). CAT, POD, ascorbate and glutathione, but not SOD, were increased in needles of both species in response to twice ambient O3 levels. UV-B radiation in the presence of ambient O3 caused an increase in total SOD activity in spruce but had no effects on antioxidants in pine. Twice ambient O3 levels together with low UV-B radiation counteracted the O3 -induced increases in ascorbate and CAT in pine but not in spruce. Under these conditions spruce needles showed the highest antioxidative protection and revealed no indication of lipid peroxidation. Pine needles exposed to UV-B and elevated O3 levels showed elevated lipid peroxidation and a 5-fold increase in dehydroascorbate, suggesting that this species was less protected and suffered higher oxidative stress than spruce.