**1. Introduction**

72 Selected Topics in DNA Repair

Ziech D, Franco R, Georgakilas AG, Georgakila S, Malamou-Mitsi V, Schoneveld O, Pappa

Ziech D, Franco R, Pappa A, Panayiotidis MI.2011. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)--Induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in human carcinogenesis. *Mutat Res*., Mar 16.

188(2):334-9.

A, Panayiotidis MI. 2010.The role of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in environmental carcinogenesis and biomarker development. *Chem Biol Interact.* ,

> In both natural and agricultural conditions, plants are frequently subjected to unfavourable environments, resulting in varying degrees of stress. UV irradiation, drought, heat shock, chilling/freezing, salinity and oxygen deficiency are a few of the major abiotic factors restricting plant growth and development. An important consequence of stratospheric ozone depletion is increased transmission of solar Ultra Violet (UV) radiation through the earth's atmosphere. This increased incidence of UV irradiation causes detrimental effects to all life forms on earth.
