Research advances on the biological effects of elevated ultraviolet-B radiation on terrestrial plants

This review describes the effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on plant growth and development, photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments and UV-B absorbing compounds. Moreover, plant ecosystem level responses to elevated UV-B radiation and interactions of UV-B radiation with abiotic and biotic factors were also involved. Results collected in this review suggest that approximately two-thirds terrestrial plant species are significantly affected by increase in UV-B radiation. The majority of evidences indicate that elevated UV-B radiation is usually detrimental but there exists tremendous variability in the sensitivity of species to UV-B radiation, and sensitivity also differs among cultivars of the same species.