Ultraviolet-C Light Effects in <i>Actinidia</i> spp. Infected by <i>Pseudomonas syringae</i> pv. <i>actinidiae</i>
Simona Lucioli,
Sarah Bollanti,
Daniele Murra,
Paolo Nota,
Marco Scortichini,
Emilia Caboni,
Antonia Lai,
Loretta Bacchetta,
Paolo Di Lazzaro
Affiliations
Simona Lucioli
CREA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi dell’Economia Agraria—Centro Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy
Sarah Bollanti
ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati, Dipartimento Nucleare, Divisione Studi del Plasma e DTT, Laboratorio Fusione Inerziale, Plasmi ed Esperimenti Interdisciplinari, 00044 Frascati, Italy
Daniele Murra
ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati, Dipartimento Nucleare, Divisione Studi del Plasma e DTT, Laboratorio Fusione Inerziale, Plasmi ed Esperimenti Interdisciplinari, 00044 Frascati, Italy
Paolo Nota
CREA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi dell’Economia Agraria—Centro Difesa e Certificazione, 00156 Rome, Italy
Marco Scortichini
CREA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi dell’Economia Agraria—Centro Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy
Emilia Caboni
CREA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi dell’Economia Agraria—Centro Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy
Antonia Lai
ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati, Dipartimento Nucleare, Divisione Tecnologie Fisiche e Sicurezza, Laboratorio Diagnostica e Metrologia, 00044 Frascati, Italy
Loretta Bacchetta
ENEA Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Dipartimento Sostenibilità, Circolarità e Adattamento al Cambiamento Climatico dei Sistemi Produttivi e Territoriali, Divisione Sistemi Agroalimentari Sostenibili, Laboratorio Bioeconomia Circolare Rigenerativa, 00123 Rome, Italy
Paolo Di Lazzaro
ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati, Dipartimento Nucleare, Divisione Studi del Plasma e DTT, Laboratorio Fusione Inerziale, Plasmi ed Esperimenti Interdisciplinari, 00044 Frascati, Italy
Several studies have demonstrated that ultraviolet-band-C (UV-C) irradiation can enhance plants’ natural resistance to pathogens and diseases. A suitable dose of UV-C radiation induces the production of metabolites that strengthen plant defenses, an effect known as “hormesis”. Hormesis presents a promising alternative that could supplement and reduce the use of pesticides, which pose risks to the environment and human health. This paper investigates the effects of UV-C radiation emitted by an array of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in generating a hormetic response in three kiwifruit species, namely A. chinensis var. deliciosa cv. Hayward, A. chinensis var. chinensis cv. Soreli®, and A. arguta plantlets, grown in vitro and in pots, exposed to the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) either before or after UV-C irradiation. Analyses of morpho-physiological parameters and spectrophotometric assays were conducted to evaluate changes in chlorophyll a and b content, carotenoids, total phenols, and antioxidant activity in relation to the UV-C irradiation. Results indicate partial protection against Psa infection and increased levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The optimal UV-C dose was determined to be 2.2 kJ/m2 for in vitro shoots and 1.3 kJ/m2, for ex vitro plants.
