Two factors which affect leaf ontogeny and ultimate leaf size: (1) the rate and duration of cell expansion, and (2) the rate and duration of cell division, were examined for their role in the slowed early growth rate and smaller ultimate leaf size when plants are exposed to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Rumex patientia L. was grown in controlled environment chambers under enhanced UV-B radiation (equivalent to daily solar UV-B irradiation at 40°N latitude in mid-May with an atmospheric ozone concentration of 0.20 atm-cm) and control treatments. The pattern of growth as expressed in changes of mean cell size of two distinct cell types, tissue cell density, and length of the entire blade are consistent with the hypothesis that the radiation primarily affects cell division rather than cell expansion. Furthermore, it appears that the radiation probably alters the rate rather than the duration of cell division. An understanding of the mechanism of radiation damage should facilitate prediction of how this stress may interact with other stresses to which plants are normally subjected.

Leaves of Rumex obtusifolius L. and R. patientia L.were exposed to combinations of mild water stress and enhanced ultraviolet-B irradiation during their ontogeny. Two UV-B treatments (enhanced UV-B and control) and three water stress treatments (-0.0 MPa, -0.2 MPa and -0.4 MPa rooting medium matric potentials) were employed. The impact of the stress interaction was assessed on the basis of changes in leaf area, average adaxial epidermal cell size, and total number of adaxial epidermal cells per leaf. Although the level of UV-B irradiation applied was insufficient to significantly alter leaf growth at any given water stress, UV-B did interact with water stress to alter the pattern o= plant response to water stress. The interaction was only apparent when the water stress was greater than -0.2 MPa root matric potential. For both species UV-B irradiation exacerbated the depression of leaf growth due to -0.4 MPa water stress. For R. obtusifolius the basis of the reduction in leaf growth was likely a reduction in the rate of cell division during the early phase of leaf growth. For R. patientia the effect of the interaction on cell division was less clear. Cell expansion was not directly affected by UV-B irradiation in either species, although the reduction in cell size with increasing water stress was apparent. In terrestrial ecosystems, mild water stress is a common occurrence and with predicted anthropogenic modifications of the atmospheric ozone layer, UV-B radiation reaching the earth's surface can be expected to increase. The effect or. higher plants of the stress interaction may thus be of considerable significance under natural conditions.