Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae)
Petal color change, a common phenomenon in angiosperms, is induced by various environmental and endogenous factors. Interestingly, this phenomenon is important for attracting pollinators and further reproductive success. Quisqualis indica L. (Combretaceae) is a tropical Asian climber that undergoes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Plant Diversity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265917301154 |
| _version_ | 1818446938868023296 |
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| author | Juan Yan Menglin Wang Ling Zhang |
| author_facet | Juan Yan Menglin Wang Ling Zhang |
| author_sort | Juan Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Petal color change, a common phenomenon in angiosperms, is induced by various environmental and endogenous factors. Interestingly, this phenomenon is important for attracting pollinators and further reproductive success. Quisqualis indica L. (Combretaceae) is a tropical Asian climber that undergoes sequential petal color change from white to pink to red. This color changing process is thought to be a good strategy to attract more pollinators. However, the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms driving this petal color change phenomenon is still underexplored. In this context, we investigated whether changes in pH, pollination, light, temperature or ethylene mediate petal color change. We found that the detected changes in petal pH were not significant enough to induce color alterations. Additionally, pollination and temperatures of 20–30 °C did not alter the rate of petal color change; however, flowers did not open when exposed to constant temperatures at 15 °C or 35 °C. Moreover, the application of ethylene inhibitor, i.e., silver thiosulphate, did not prevent color change. It is worth mentioning here that in our study we found light as a strong factor influencing the whole process of petal color change, as petals remained white under dark conditions. Altogether, the present study suggests that petal color change in Q. indica is induced by light and not by changes in petal pH, pollination, ethylene, or temperature, while extremely low or high temperatures affect flower anthesis. In summary, our findings represent the probable mechanism underlying the phenomenon of petal color change, which is important for understanding flower color evolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:55:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7602258ce6ef4166b97d800318dbf78c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2468-2659 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:55:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-7602258ce6ef4166b97d800318dbf78c2022-12-21T22:49:18ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Plant Diversity2468-26592018-02-01401283410.1016/j.pld.2017.11.004Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae)Juan Yan0Menglin Wang1Ling Zhang2Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, ChinaPetal color change, a common phenomenon in angiosperms, is induced by various environmental and endogenous factors. Interestingly, this phenomenon is important for attracting pollinators and further reproductive success. Quisqualis indica L. (Combretaceae) is a tropical Asian climber that undergoes sequential petal color change from white to pink to red. This color changing process is thought to be a good strategy to attract more pollinators. However, the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms driving this petal color change phenomenon is still underexplored. In this context, we investigated whether changes in pH, pollination, light, temperature or ethylene mediate petal color change. We found that the detected changes in petal pH were not significant enough to induce color alterations. Additionally, pollination and temperatures of 20–30 °C did not alter the rate of petal color change; however, flowers did not open when exposed to constant temperatures at 15 °C or 35 °C. Moreover, the application of ethylene inhibitor, i.e., silver thiosulphate, did not prevent color change. It is worth mentioning here that in our study we found light as a strong factor influencing the whole process of petal color change, as petals remained white under dark conditions. Altogether, the present study suggests that petal color change in Q. indica is induced by light and not by changes in petal pH, pollination, ethylene, or temperature, while extremely low or high temperatures affect flower anthesis. In summary, our findings represent the probable mechanism underlying the phenomenon of petal color change, which is important for understanding flower color evolution.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265917301154Environmental factorsEthylenePetal colorpHPollinationTemperature |
| spellingShingle | Juan Yan Menglin Wang Ling Zhang Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) Plant Diversity Environmental factors Ethylene Petal color pH Pollination Temperature |
| title | Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) |
| title_full | Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) |
| title_short | Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae) |
| title_sort | light induces petal color change in quisqualis indica combretaceae |
| topic | Environmental factors Ethylene Petal color pH Pollination Temperature |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265917301154 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juanyan lightinducespetalcolorchangeinquisqualisindicacombretaceae AT menglinwang lightinducespetalcolorchangeinquisqualisindicacombretaceae AT lingzhang lightinducespetalcolorchangeinquisqualisindicacombretaceae |