Even plants get sunburned

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Red algae (Devaleraea ramentacea) under increased ultraviolet radiation. They produce less red light-harvesting proteins so the typical red colour of the alga fades and the plant gets white tips. Credit: Photo: Max Schwanitz Alfred Wegener Institute
Red algae (Devaleraea ramentacea) under increased ultraviolet radiation. They produce less red light-harvesting proteins so the typical red colour of the alga fades and the plant gets white tips. Credit: Photo: Max Schwanitz, Alfred Wegener Institute
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It is red, it burns and itches: a sunburn on our skin. However, too much sun is not only bad for humans. Many plants react sensitively to an increased dose of ultraviolet radiation, too. Yet they are dependent on sunlight. With the help of pigments absorbing solar energy and light, plants produce their vitally important building blocks by means of photosynthesis. However, this has its limits: too much sun means an over-abundance of energy and thus the destruction of the sensitive pigments. The result are black spots, pale leaves and rotten parts.


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