ABSTRACT
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes damage to plant cells, which depends on the irradiating wavelength and the ability of cells to repair the damage. The damage that plants suffer directly due to UV irradiation can be classified into two major categories: damage to DNA and to physiological processes. Retrotransposition often occurs under particular stress conditions, such as UV radiation, which may be harnessed to provide beneficial traits for plant breeding through mutation and subsequent variation. Photoreceptors receive specific spectral bands and help the plant to perceive the seasons, the time of day, or the presence of competitors. Mounting empirical evidence suggests that despite the numerous forms of damage attributed to UV radiation, the benefits that photosynthetic organisms may get from UV radiation, if harnessed optimally, have the potential to improve the yield of crop plants, both in quality and in quantity, and to support and bring advantages to the ecosystem.
