Have you ever wondered why plants never get sunburnt? This is because plants make “sunscreen” in their leaves, say researchers.
Ultra-violet rays — the most powerful part of the sun’s rays — can damage both humans and plants. But plants rarely show signs of sun damage, despite being out in the open all day with no access to sunscreen or protective clothing.
Now, a team at Glasgow University has found that plants have evolved a way of making their own chemical “sunscreen” within their leaves. A protein in their leaves, called UVR8, actually detects the presence of UV-B rays and starts off a chemical reaction that protects the leaves. In their study, the researchers have revealed exactly how plants “sense” UV-B light.
UVR8 is a “photoreceptor” — a light detecting protein. Organisms use photoreceptors to sense particular regions of the daylight spectrum. Vertebrates, animals with backbones — including human beings — have photoreceptors for vision.