DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms in Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) Under Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Light Stress
- 1West Virginia State University
Abstract
Exposure to Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light can adversely affect plant growth and cellular integrity by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we investigated UV-B-induced DNA damage and repair responses in the aquatic monocotyledonous plant species Spirodela polyrhiza (duckweed). We exposed 13-day-old duckweed plantlets to broadband UV-B light for 1-10 min, followed by recovery periods of up to 24 h under normal growth conditions. We observed progressive chlorosis, wilting, and diminished plant vigor with longer durations of UV-B light exposure. Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated compromised genomic DNA integrity immediately after UV-B light treatment, with partial restoration of DNA quality during recovery. Immuno-slot blot assays established the accumulation of two major UV light-induced photoproducts, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone photoproducts [(6-4)PPs], in a dose-dependent manner following UV-B light exposure. Notably, the abundance of these DNA lesions declined substantially after recovery, indicating activation of endogenous DNA repair mechanisms. Staining with 3,3-diaminobenzidine revealed elevated accumulation of hydrogen peroxide immediately following UV-B exposure, suggesting enhanced oxidative stress. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that S. polyrhiza possesses efficient mechanisms for sensing, repairing, and mitigating DNA damage induced by oxidative stress resulting from UV-B light exposure. This study highlights the potential of duckweed as an effective model system for investigating DNA damage and repair pathways under UV-B light stress in plants.
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BibTeX
@misc{sanjaya2026damage,
title = {{DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms in Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) Under Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Light Stress}},
author = {M. A. Sanjaya and S. S. Patil},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.02.748994},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748994v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms in Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) Under Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Light Stress
AU - M. A. Sanjaya
AU - S. S. Patil
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/02
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.02.748994
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748994v1
AB - Exposure to Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light can adversely affect plant growth and cellular integrity by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we investigated UV-B-induced DNA damage and repair responses in the aquatic monocotyledonous plant species Spirodela polyrhiza (duckweed). We exposed 13-day-old duckweed plantlets to broadband UV-B light for 1-10 min, followed by recovery periods of up to 24 h under normal growth conditions. We observed progressive chlorosis, wilting, and diminished plant vigor with longer durations of UV-B light exposure. Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated compromised genomic DNA integrity immediately after UV-B light treatment, with partial restoration of DNA quality during recovery. Immuno-slot blot assays established the accumulation of two major UV light-induced photoproducts, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone photoproducts [(6-4)PPs], in a dose-dependent manner following UV-B light exposure. Notably, the abundance of these DNA lesions declined substantially after recovery, indicating activation of endogenous DNA repair mechanisms. Staining with 3,3-diaminobenzidine revealed elevated accumulation of hydrogen peroxide immediately following UV-B exposure, suggesting enhanced oxidative stress. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that S. polyrhiza possesses efficient mechanisms for sensing, repairing, and mitigating DNA damage induced by oxidative stress resulting from UV-B light exposure. This study highlights the potential of duckweed as an effective model system for investigating DNA damage and repair pathways under UV-B light stress in plants.
ER -