Characterization of chloroplast iridescence in Selaginella erythropus. Issue 148 (30th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masters, Nathan J.; Lopez-Garcia, Martin; Oulton, Ruth; Whitney, Heather M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Royal Society interface. Volume 15:Issue 148(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-11-30
• Subjects: iridescence -- photosynthesis -- photonics -- structural colour; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Interdisciplinary research -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0559
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5689

Abstract

Abstract : Iridescence in shade-dwelling plants has previously been described in only a few plant groups, and even fewer where the structural colour is produced by intracellular structures. In contrast with other Selaginella species, this work reports the first example in the genus of structural colour originating from modified chloroplasts. Characterization of these structures determines that they form one-dimensional photonic multilayers. The Selaginella bizonoplasts present an analogous structure to recently reported Begonia iridoplasts; however, unlike Begonia species that produce iridoplasts, this Selaginella species was not previously described as iridescent. This therefore raises the possibility of widespread but unobserved and uncharacterized photonic structures in plants.