Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Plants can't get Sunburn

Scientist Timothy Zwier and his colleagues at Purdue University have discovered a group of molecules that are in plants that shield them from sun damage.  Even though, plants use sunlight to make their food, they also need to protect themselves from its harmful rays. These molecules work like a sunscreen for the plants; just like us humans use sunscreen to protect our skin from the suns harmful rays.
The molecules that the plants are able to produce are sent to the outer layer of their leaves for protection. This molecule are called, sinapate esters and they block ultraviolet-B radiation from getting deep into their leaves where the sunlight could disrupt the plant’s normal development. If UV radiation that plants are exposed to daily were able to enter the leaves of the plant, it would seriously damage the plants DNA and prevent the plant from growing.


After finding these sinapate ester molecules, the researchers then investigated what UVB radiation did to these molecules in the gas phase. They used a laser in the laboratory and found that sinapate ester molecules were able to soak up radiation at every wavelength across the UVB spectrum. Therefore, they found that these molecules work well as a sunscreen for the plants because they are able to absorb all of the harsh radiation from the sun that plants are exposed to daily.


I chose this article because I love being in the sun but I am always afraid of getting sunburn. I then found it interesting that plants are unable to get sunburn due to a molecule that they are able to produce. This molecule works for plants like sunscreen works for us humans. I think it is amazing that they are able to protect themselves from something that they are exposed to almost each and everyday.

Related Article: Why plants don't get sunburn

1 comment:

  1. The discovery of a molecule produced by plants to provide protection against ultraviolet radiation is certainly interesting. Plants take so much exposure from the Sun, requiring sunlight to produce chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis; however I have never thought about the possible damage that could be sustained from so much exposure. It is also fascinating that these sinapate ester molecules can absorb radiation at every wavelength within the UVB spectrum. I wonder if this knowledge can be utilized to provide protection to other organisms or even humans. It is wonderful to now know that plants cannot sustain "sunburn" due to protection from ultraviolet radiation as provided by production of this molecule. Interesting find!

    ReplyDelete