Solar UV-B and UV-A/B exclusion effects on intraspecific variations in crop growth and yield of wheat varieties

► We study intraspecific responses of 4 wheat varieties to ambient UV by exclusion of solar UV-A/B. ► Exclusion of solar UV upregulated all growth/yield parameters in wheat. ► Considerable variations in responses existed among varieties of wheat to ambient UV. ► Primary metabolism was enhanced in the absence of solar UV-B/A. ► This study would help in selection of plant varieties to increased UV-B. UV exclusion studies would help in the assessment of the sensitivity of varieties to ambient level of UV radiation. A field study was conducted to determine the intraspecific responses in relative to sensitivity of Indian wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties to ambient solar ultraviolet (290–400 nm) radiation. Specifically, the influence of ambient UV radiation on crop growth and yield parameters was investigated by the exclusion of UV radiation form solar spectrum using four Indian wheat varieties; Naveen Chandausi, Swarna, Vidisha and Purna. The plants were grown in specially designed UV exclusion chambers, wrapped with filters that excluded both UV-A/B ( Vidisha > Purna. Thus Purna was the most sensitive and Naveen Chandausi the least sensitive to current level of solar UV radiation. The intraspecific differences in sensitivity identified among the wheat varieties imply the options for selecting varieties with increased tolerance to UV-B/UV-A radiations to future attempts in plant breeding.