Growth patterns of tomato plants subjected to two non-conventional abiotic stresses: UV-C irradiations and electric fields

Ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C = 100-280 nm) is strongly affected by ozone levels, so that the amount of this radiation reaching the Earth's surface is extremely low. In the future, UV-C radiation is expected to increase as the result of stratospheric ozone depletion due to atmospheric pollution, with strong negative effects on economically important crops. High UV-C doses determine irreversible damages both at plant physiological and morphological levels, leading plants to death. Also electric fields (EFs) can determine changes at morphological and physiological levels in plants. Electro-culture can accelerate growth rates, increase yields, improve crop quality and plant protection against from diseases, insects and frost. This chapter is focused on the effects of the exposition of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), one of the most economically important crop, to UV-C radiation and DC-electric field, able to determine important and significant alterations in plant growth. The protection of tomato plants against UV-C, combined with the growth-promoting effects of electro-culture, could allow farmers to grow bigger and better crops in less time, with less effort, and at a lower cost.