Graphic and Visual Exam
Once we obtained theamount of anthocyanins and carotenoids in mg/g FW, we proceeded to analyze the results. In order to describe the relative plants’ response after being irradiated, we represented the results as fold change measure graphics.
RESULTS OF PLANTS OVEREXPRESSING PAP1
These results are represented in the following 2 graphics, the left one representing total carotenoids and the other one total anthocyanins.
On the left part of both diagrams, it is represented how the levels of pigments in WT plants have changed in relation to their levels before the exposure to UV-B.. Whereas the right part represents how the plants overexpressing PAP1 have responded after being irradiated with UV-B modifying their levels of these two photoprotective pigments in comparison to its levels before exposure.
Levels of photoprotective pigments in plants overexpressing PAP1 in comparison with WT after exposure to UV-B light have increased a 38% in carotenoids, as you can see in the left graphic, and a 151% in anthocyanins as represented in the right one.
These results allow us to conclude that an increase in the ability to produce photoprotective pigments as a response to UV light is greater in the plants which overexpress PAP1. This ability to produce a higher amount of these pigments results in higher protection of the plants to UV-B exposure. This way, as we can see in the following photos, the plants suffered less damage.
A) A.thaliana WT exposed to UV B) A.thaliana overexpressing PAP1 exposed to UV.
This damage can be observed in the visual exam we made after the exposure (Figure xx). It can be clearly observed that the plant overexpressing the PAP1 gene, has a darker green colour and its leaves have not fallen down.
This way, we can confirm our hypothesis: a higher accumulation of photoprotective pigments results in higher protection to UV-B light.
RESULTS OF PLANTS EXPOSED TO VOLATILE COMPOUNDS
Moving into the results of plants exposed to volatile compounds, we have represented the results in the following two graphics showing, as the previous ones, total carotenoids and total anthocyanins.
The left part of both figures represents the response of WT plants. Whereas the right part, represents how the plants exposed to volatile compounds from A. alternata have responded after being irradiated with UV-B in relation to the levels of these pigments before the exposure.
In plants exposed to volatile compounds, pigment levels have increased 38% in carotenoids levels, and 40% in anthocyanins levels, in comparison with WT plants.
These results confirm again our hypothesis: an increase in the ability to produce photoprotective pigments as a response to UV-B light is greater in the plants exposed to volatile compounds.
A) A.thaliana -VCs exposed to UV B) A.thaliana +VCs exposed to UV.
The visual exam of the plants two days after UV-B exposure, show that the most meaningful change can be observed in their rosettes, being the plant exposed to VCs less damaged than the WT plant. Taking into account these observations and the levels of pigments we can say that the plants exposed to volatile compounds have greater protection to UV-B exposure.