Structural color in Myxomycetes.
In this paper we report evidence of structural color in Myxomycetes, a group of eukaryotic microorganisms with an uncertain taxonomic position. We investigated the Diachea leucopoda, which belongs to the Physarales order, Myxomycetes class, and found that its peridium -protective layer that encloses the mass of spores- is basically a corrugated layer of a transparent material, which produces a multicolored pointillistic effect, characteristic of this species. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy techniques have been employed to characterize the samples. A simple optical model of a planar slab is proposed to calculate the reflectance. The chromaticity coordinates are obtained, and the results confirm that the color observed is a result of an interference effect.
Inchaussandague
Marina
M
Grupo de Electromagnetismo Aplicado, Departamento de Física, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and IFIBA, CONICET Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón I, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina. mei@df.uba.ar
Skigin
Diana
D
Carmaran
Cecilia
C
Rosenfeldt
Sonia
S
D008954:Models, Biological; D009235:Myxomycetes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*