Lec 26 Flashcards
Functions of plant color
Photosynthesis
Pollen/seed dispersal
Protection
A mutant appearance is preferred by people
Plant pigments
Small organic molecules
Absorb certain wavelengths of light
Pigments use
Subtractive mixing
Chlorophylls
Green
Found in Chloroplasts
Photosynthesis
Harvest sunlight
Carotenoids
Orange/red
Found in chloroplasts for photosynth
Found in chromoplasts for color
Anthrocyanins
Red/purple/blue
Found in the central vacuole
Function: Coloration, UV protection
Leaves purpose
Photosynthesis
Gas exchange
Leave structures
Broad leaves
Needles
Larch tree
Conifer because it has needles and deciduous because it sheds them in the autumn
Leaf color
Green
Chloroplasts
White leaves means
Defective chloroplasts
Purple leaves mean
Anthocyanins for UV protection
or
Camouflage
Entirely white plants
No chloroplasts
ex. Ghost plants feed on other plants
Photoautotroph
Gets energy from the sun
Chemoautotroph
Eats other organisms
Venus fly traps are
Photoautotrophs
They only eat insects for nitrogen
Green –> orange/yellow
Removal of chlorophylls reveals carotenoids
Why are pigments being removed
Chlorophylls contain nitrogen so they must be salvaged
Carotenoids are not needed
Green –> red
Synthesis of new anthocyanins during chlorophyll removal
Flowers purpose
Pollen dispersal using hungry birds, bats, insects
Flowers produce
Nectar
Nectar is made of
Sucrose glucose fructose
Nectar attracts
Animals like bees who also move pollen from male plants to female plants
Which gender plant makes more nectar
Female flowers so that the animals are more incentivized to visit them and bring pollen
Single flower
Reproductive parts in the middle
Attraction parts on the outside (petals)
Flower clusters (inflorescences)
Little flowers in the middle for reproduction
Other little flowers on the outside to attract insects (ray flowers)
Flowers + leaves
Little flowers in the middle for reproduction
Leaves with a certain pigment to attract animals
Yellow and orange means
Carotenoids in chromoplasts
Red purple or blue means
Anthocyanins
Flowers with bright colors attract
Birds and bees
Flowers that attract beetles use
Scent rather than color
Flowers that attract nocturnal animals use
Scent not color
eg. cactus
Color changing plants
Central vacuoles are acidic because of ATP powered proton pumps
Petal cells expand when water enters the central vacuole
The central vacuole contains
some pH sensitive pigments
Color changing plants
NHX1
H+ powered K+ antiport transporter that moves K+ ions into the central vacuole
Potassium enters the cell as hydrogen leaves and water follows potassium because it is an ion
Cause the pH of the plants to be more basic because H+ is leaving, leading to the pH sensitive pigments to change the color of the plant
Fruits purpose
Seed dispersal using hungry animals
Fruit colors
Immature fruit is green to synthesize sugars
Fruit changing colors
Mature fruit is red/orange/yellow/purple to attract animals
Chloroplasts change to
Chromoplasts to allow the change from green to red
Changing from green to orange signifies
Citrus fruits
Green to yellow
Bananas
Bell peppers
Change color until picked
Synthesis of anthocyanins is used in
Blackberries, plums, grapes
Green to purple
Root purpose
Anchor plant in ground, obtain water and minerals, and storage
Root color
Usually unpigmented
Mutant strains of potatoes and carrots make
carotenoids and anthocyanins
