The dual defensive strategy of Amorphophallus throughout its ontogeny. (3rd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Kunpeng; Fadzly, Nik; Mansor, Asyraf; Zakaria, Rahmad; Ruppert, Nadine; Lee, Chow Yang
• Is Part Of: Plant signaling & behavior. Volume 12:Number 10(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10-03
• Subjects: Plant color -- cryptic color -- insect mimicry -- Amorphophallus -- leaf color -- reflectance analysis; Plant ecophysiology -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction; Plant ecophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 581
• DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2017.1371890
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1559-2316

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Amorphophallus bufo is a rarely studied plant in Malaysian tropical rainforests. We measured the spectral reflectance of different developmental stages of A. bufo (seedlings, juveniles and adults), background soil/ debris and leaves from other neighboring plant species. Results show that the leaves of A. bufo seedling have a similar reflectance curve as the background soil and debris. Adults and juveniles of A. bufo are similar to other neighboring plants' leaf colors. We hypothesize that the cryptic coloration of A. bufo seedlings plays an important role in camouflage and that the numerous black spots on the surface of the petioles and rachises, may serve as a defensive mimicry against herbivores.