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Convergent evolution of disordered lipidic structural colour in the fruits of Lantana strigocamara (syn. L. camara hybrid cultivar).

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Sinnott-Armstrong, Miranda A  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1806-565X
van de Kerkhof, Gea Theodora  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2427-2740

Abstract

The majority of plant colours are produced by anthocyanin and carotenoid pigments, but colouration obtained by nanostructured materials (i.e. structural colours) is increasingly reported in plants. Here, we identify a multilayer photonic structure in the fruits of Lantana strigocamara and compare it with a similar structure in Viburnum tinus fruits. We used a combination of transmission electron microscopy (EM), serial EM tomography, scanning force microscopy and optical simulations to characterise the photonic structure in L. strigocamara. We also examine the development of the structure during maturation. We found that the structural colour derives from a disordered, multilayered reflector consisting of lipid droplets of c.105 nm that form a plate-like structure in 3D. This structure begins to form early in development and reflects blue wavelengths of light with increasing intensity over time as the structure develops. The materials used are likely to be lipid polymers. Lantana strigocamara is the second origin of a lipid-based photonic structure, convergently evolved with the structure in Viburnum tinus. Chemical differences between the lipids in L. strigocamara and those of V. tinus suggest a distinct evolutionary trajectory with implications for the signalling function of structural colours in fruits.

Description

Keywords

convergent evolution, fruit colour, honest signalling, lantana, plant lipids, seed dispersal, structural colour, Color, Fruit, Lantana, Lipids, Viburnum

Journal Title

New Phytol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0028-646X
1469-8137

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/K014617/1)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions (722842)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (101001637)
European Research Council (639088)