Comparing intraspecific responses of 12 winter wheat cultivars to different doses of ultraviolet-B radiation

In this study, intraspecific responses of 12 winter wheat cultivars to different doses of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) were analyzed and compared. The results showed that the low UV-B dose of 3.24 kJ m−2 d−1 generally inhibited the plant height, but promoted the dry weight and photochemical reflectance index (PRI). The high UV-B dose of 5.40 kJ m−2 d−1 inhibited most of the indexes, especially plant height and fresh weight. Under the treatments of two UV-B doses, the response indexes (RIs) of plant height, dry weight, fresh weight, carotenoid, and anthocyanin were all significantly correlated with the cumulative stress response index (CSRI). The RIs of carotenoid and anthocyanin exhibited higher correlations with dry weight and fresh weight, indicating that these indexes were vital to UV-B tolerance. By comparing the correlations of the seven indexes between two doses of UV-B radiation, the responses of 12 cultivars’ plant height and dry weight to different doses of UV-B were very significant (P < 0.01). Thus, when comparing the UV-B tolerance of different winter wheat seedlings, no matter using high dose or low dose UV-B, the index of plant height should be concerned first and dry weight could be used secondarily. Among 12 winter wheat cultivars, Nongda 6081 exhibited significant resistance to two doses of UV-B radiation while others were variable. Differences in the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds induced by UV-B in leaves may be the main and direct reason for the intraspecific differences between resistant and sensitive cultivars.