Furanocoumarin content and phototoxicity of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) foliage exposed to enhanced ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation

Rooted cuttings of C. jambhiri were grown under enhanced levels of UVB radiation for 95 days. Bacterial phototoxicity and furanocoumarin content were determined in extracts made from various tissues from the aboveground biomass. Young, newly expanded leaves contained significantly higher concentrations of furanocoumarins than older leaves and stems. Additionally, the proportional concentration of psoralen was higher in young leaves than in old leaves. While treatment with UVB did not result in a change in the overall level of furanocoumarins, it did cause an increase in the ratio of psoralen to bergapten. Bacterial phototoxicity paralleled the distribution of furanocoumarin content among tissue types; analysis of covariance suggested that the phototoxic properties of the extracts could be accounted for on the basis of furanocoumarin content alone.