UV-B Radiation and Plant Life

- Brian Jordan is Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Lincoln University, New Zealand and has over 30 years of experience in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. Professor Jordan was a scientist at Horticulture Research International, UK for 14 years and during that time carried out research at the Carnegie Institute, Stanford University, USA, North Carolina State University, USA and CSIRO Canberra, Australia. Throughout his research career he has focused on how light regulates plant growth and development. In particular, he has made a major contribution to understanding the molecular responses of plants to ultraviolet radiation. Since going to New Zealand in 1994, Professor Jordan has worked for Crop & Food Research as a programme leader in genetic engineering and as the Food Science & Technology Divisional Manager. In 1998, he became Director, Nutrition and Health in the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University. Professor Jordan acted as a United Nations Environmental Programme reviewer in 1998 and 2006 on the impact of ultraviolet radiation. In January 2001, he was appointed Director of the Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division and Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Lincoln University and remained as a senior manager until 2008; after which he returned to research and teaching. From 2006-2008, he was part of the New Zealand Specific Support Action, Food-Frenz. He has also been part of two European COST-ACTIONS: on viticulture and ultraviolet radiation.

Part 1: The UV-B Environment 1: Towards an Understanding of the Implications of Changing Stratospheric Ozone, Climate and UV Radiation 2: Quantification of UV Radiation 3: UV Radiation and Terrestrial Ecosystems: Emerging Perspectives Part 2: UV-B Induced Changes to Plant Physiology, Morphology and Secondary Metabolism 4: UV-B Changes in Secondary Plant Metabolites 5: UV-B Induced Morphological Changes – an Enigma 6: Plant Responses to Fluctuating UV Environments Part 3: The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of UV-B responses 7: The Effects of UV-B on the Biochemistry and Metabolism of Plants 8: Discovery and Characterization of the UV-B Photoreceptor UVR8 9: UV-B Signal Transduction from Photoperception to Response Part 4: UV-B Impact on Agriculture and Horticulture 10: The Effects of Ultraviolet-B on Vitis vinifera – How Important is UV-B for Grape Biochemical Composition? 11: Turning UV Photobiology into an Agricultural Reality