Botany: floral fluorescence effect.
The way flowers appear to insects is crucial for pollination. Here we describe an internal light-filtering effect in the flowers of Mirabilis jalapa, in which the visible fluorescence emitted by one pigment, a yellow betaxanthin, is absorbed by another, a violet betacyanin, to create a contrasting fluorescent pattern on the flower's petals. This finding opens up new possibilities for pollinator perception as fluorescence has not previously been considered as a potential signal in flowers.
Gandía-Herrero
Fernando
F
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
García-Carmona
Francisco
F
Escribano
Josefa
J
D000818:Animals; D050859:Betacyanins; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003116:Color; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005453:Fluorescence; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D039281:Nyctaginaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D010858:Pigmentation; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D011058:Pollen / Q000502:physiology
D050859:Betacyanins; D007211:Indoles; D010848:Picolinic Acids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; C488995:betaxanthin; C020228:betanin