TITLE:
Far-UV Radiation Exposure of Plant Leaves: Observed Damage and Survival
AUTHORS:
Paul Donald Forbes, David Welch, Raabia Hashmi, Manuela Buonanno, David J. Brenner
KEYWORDS:
Ultraviolet Radiation, Far-UVC, Poinsettia
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Far-UVC technology is a promising intervention to limit the spread of disease in occupied spaces. One unanticipated effect from the introduction of far-UVC radiation to indoor spaces is the impact on indoor plant health. Anecdotal reports have suggested that Poinsettia plants, when kept in a room where they were exposed to far-UVC radiation, exhibited visible discoloration, drooping and wilting. In this study, various plants were exposed to controlled doses of far-UVC radiation and their health was monitored. Across several genera and species of plants that display varying degrees of red coloration in leaves, the sensitivity to far-UVC ranges from substantial to visually undetectable. The observed changes warrant further mechanistic investigation to provide practical information about installation of far-UVC fixtures in rooms with decorative plants.