To Örebro University

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seedlings were grown at 14 European locations across a latitudinal gradient spanning 37 to 68°N. Seedlings planted in nutrient enriched vermiculite were grown outdoors over five weeks between the 29th June and the 3rd August 2010. At each location there were three treatments – open, filtered with cellulose acetate (UV transparent) and filtered with Mylar (UV opaque). Plants were regularly watered and outdoor climatic conditions were monitored at nearby meteorological stations. The aim of the experiment was to assess the significance of ambient UV radiation to L.perenne, both at each location and across the gradient in terms of aboveground biomass, tiller number, and the level of UV protective plant pigments. Material was further screened using metabolite fingerprinting (FT-IR spectroscopy) to assess local, regional and latitudinal variation in total plant chemistry. Data presented will explore and interpret the complex variations in growth and chemistry looking at local responses and the latitudinal gradient explored.