Most plants have UV shielding, but not always sufficient for complete protection. Only a small proportion of the UV-B radiation striking a leaf penetrates into the inner tissues. When exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation, many species of plants can increase the UV-absorbing pigments in their outer leaf tissues. Other adaptations may include increased thickness of leaves that reduces the proportion of inner tissues exposed to UV-B radiation and changes in the protecting waxy layer of the leaves. Several repair mechanisms exist in plants, including repair systems for DNA damage or oxidant injury. The net damage a plant experiences is the result of the balance between damage and protection and repair processes.

There are some UV-B-sensitive varieties of crops that experience reductions in yield.

There are also UV-B-tolerant varieties, providing the opportunity to breed and genetically engineer for UV-B tolerant crops. For commercial forests, tree breeding and genetic engineering may be used to improve UV-B tolerance. While many forest tree species appear to be UV-B tolerant, there is limited evidence that detrimental UV-B effects accumulate slowly from year to year in sensitive species. The biochemistry and physiology of plants are influenced by UV-B exposure such as in the accumulation of UV-B pigments. It is not possible to conclude whether or not the changes will have any appreciable impact on the quality of food. Plants and animals have, during their evolution, adapted to particular environments. They have acquired protection and repair mechanisms appropriate for their particular situations. However, the present rate of global change is so rapid that evolution may not keep up with it, particularly in long-lived plants like trees. Thus, plants adapted to low UV-B environments may suffer even from an increase that is smaller than the difference between natural levels at the equator and higher latitudes. For example, herbaceous plants native to the southern tip of South America (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) and the Antarctic Peninsula have been shown to be affected by the current ambient UV-B levels.

Over long times and many generations, there is the possibility that genetic adaptation can develop.