Structural colour from helicoidal cell-wall architecture in fruits ofMargaritaria nobilis.
The bright and intense blue-green coloration of the fruits ofMargaritaria nobilis(Phyllanthaceae) was investigated using polarization-resolved spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Optical measurements of freshly collected fruits revealed a strong circularly polarized reflection of the fruit that originates from a cellulose helicoidal cell wall structure in the pericarp cells. Hyperspectral microscopy was used to capture the iridescent effect at the single-cell level.
Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK sv319@cam.ac.uk.
Silvia
0000-0003-0664-1418
S
Vignolini
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK.
Thomas
T
Gregory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA.
Mathias
M
Kolle
Thin Film Photonics, School of Physics, Exeter University, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK.
Alfie
A
Lethbridge
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
Edwige
E
Moyroud
Adolphe Merkle Institute, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Ullrich
U
Steiner
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
Beverley J
BJ
Glover
Thin Film Photonics, School of Physics, Exeter University, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK.
Peter
P
Vukusic
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK.
Paula J
PJ
Rudall
D005638:Fruit / Q000166:cytology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000166:cytology*
cellulose; circular dichroism; helicoidal cell wall; iridescence; natural photonics; structural colour