Abstract
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.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Betacyanins
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Color
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Flowers / chemistry*
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Flowers / radiation effects*
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Fluorescence*
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Indoles / analysis
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Indoles / chemistry
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Indoles / isolation & purification
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Indoles / radiation effects
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Insecta / physiology
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Light
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Models, Biological
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Nyctaginaceae / chemistry*
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Nyctaginaceae / radiation effects*
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Picolinic Acids / analysis
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Picolinic Acids / chemistry
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Picolinic Acids / isolation & purification
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Picolinic Acids / radiation effects
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Pigmentation
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Pigments, Biological / analysis
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Pigments, Biological / chemistry
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Pigments, Biological / isolation & purification
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Pigments, Biological / radiation effects
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Pollen / physiology
Substances
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Betacyanins
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Indoles
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Picolinic Acids
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Pigments, Biological
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betaxanthin
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betanin