Short term exposure of UV-B radiation enhances salinity tolerance in Vigna adiata

Electromagnetic radiation (7%) emitted from the sun is in the uv range (200-400) nm. several morphological and anatomical changes have been reported from plants grown under long-term uv-b regimes. the effect of uv-b radiation (280-320nm) and salinity alone and in combination were studied. fifteen days old seedlings of vigna radiata were exposed to uv-b radiation for 10,20 and 30 minutes and salinity treatment was given to the plants 3 days before the uv-b treatment. uv radiation was artificially provided by esco airstream vertical laminar flow cabinet (avc-4ai). significant decrease (p<0.05) in root and shoot length,specific leaf area,chlorophyll and carotenoid content of in all uv-b and salinity treatments was observed as compared to control. the reduction was more pronounced in salinity treatment as compared to uv-b alone and combination of uv-b with salinity. it is concluded that the short term exposure of uv-b radiation enhances the salinity tolerance in vigna radiata.