In plants, the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) perceives UV-B and induces UV-B responses. UVR8 absorbs a range of UV-B (260–335 nm). However, the responsiveness of plants to each UV-B wavelength has not been intensively studied so far. Here, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses of Arabidopsis using UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak wavelengths of 280 and 310 nm to investigate the differences in the wavelength-specific UV-B responses. Irradiation with both UV-LEDs induced gene expression of the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which has a central role in the UVR8 signaling pathway. However, the overall transcriptomic and metabolic responses to 280 and 310 nm UV-LED irradiation were different. Most of the known UV-B-responsive genes, such as defense-related genes, responded only to 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. Lipids, polyamines and organic acids were the metabolites most affected by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation, whereas the effect of 310 nm UV-LED irradiation on the metabolome was considerably less. Enzymatic genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway upstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated only by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. These results revealed that the responsivenesses of Arabidopsis to 280 and 310 nm UV-B were significantly different, suggesting that UV-B signaling is mediated by more complex pathways than the current model.

In plants, the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) perceives UV-B and induces UV-B responses including synthesis of UV-B absorbing phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins. UVR8 absorbs a range of UV-B (260–335 nm). However, the responsiveness of plants to each UV-B wavelength has not been intensively studied so far. Here, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses of Arabidopsis using UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak wavelengths of 280 and 310 nm to investigate the differences in the wavelength-specific UV-B responses. Irradiation with both UV-LEDs induced gene expression of the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which has a central role in the UVR8 signaling pathway. However, the overall transcriptomic and metabolic responses to 280 and 310 nm UV-LED irradiation were different. Most of the known UV-B-responsive genes, such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and defense-related genes, responded only to 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. Lipids, polyamines and organic acids were the metabolites most affected by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation, whereas the effect of 310 nm UV-LED irradiation on the metabolome was considerably less. Enzymatic genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway upstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated only by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. On the other hand, no enzymatic genes downstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were induced by the UV-LEDs, but rather, they were down-regulated by 310 nm UV-LED irradiation. These results revealed that the responsivenesses of Arabidopsis to 280 and 310 nm UV-B were significantly different, suggesting that UV-B signaling is mediated by more complex pathways than the current model.

UV-C irradiation increases resveratrol content in grape skins, but it reaches a maximum at a certain UV-C dose. In contrast, UV-B has a weak resveratrol-enhancing effect at low doses, but it has not been investigated at high doses. In this study, we investigated the effect of high-dose UV-B on resveratrol contents in grape skins. Irradiation of Muscat Bailey A with 290 nm UV-B LED at 22 500 and 225 000 μmol m−2 increased the resveratrol contents in the grape skins by 2.1- and 9.0-fold, respectively, without significant increases in other phenolic compounds. The effect was also confirmed for two other cultivars: Shine Muscat and Delaware. Transcriptome analysis of the grape skins of Muscat Bailey A immediately after irradiation with UV-B at 225 000 μmol m−2 showed that genes related to biotic and abiotic stresses were up-regulated. Hence, it was suggested that high-dose UV-B irradiation induces a stress response and specifically activates resveratrol biosynthesis.

To study the effect of light on Japanese squid (Todarodes pacificus) behavior, we developed a new ultrasonic biotelemetry system that can simultaneously observe and measure multiple targets. We tested the system on 40 squids in open water. Each squid was attached with a Gold code pinger (AquaSound Inc.) that transmits single frequency signals of multiple codes (IDs). By using the combination of 32 kinds of Gold code sequences, we succeeded to develop a receiving system that can simultaneously track 40 pingers. In the field test, 40 squids attached with the Gold code pingers were released simultaneously into open water and signals were recorded from three fishing boats for a maximum of six hours. The underwater positioning of the squids was calculated based on the “reverse cross-bearing” method by using the cross points from each direction against the target obtained by two boats. With the addition of depth data obtained by the pressure sensor installed in each Gold code pinger, we succeeded to measure the 3D positions of all 40 target squids. Considering the movement of boats by wind and tide, the positions of all three boats were measured every second using the GNSS (FURUNO Electronics Co., Ltd.).