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Implications of reflectance and fluorescence of Rhododendron indicum flowers in biosignaling

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Abstract

A quantitative evaluation of the light emerging from intact petals of Rhododendron indicum flowers of different colours was performed. Reflectance and fluorescence emission were analyzed in detail. The fluorescence quantum yield of petals was determined on entire flowers. The obtained values varied from 7.6 × 10−5 to 6.3 × 10−4 for the emission in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum and from 2.4 × 10−5 to 1.9 × 10−4 for the emission in the red one. The fluorescence emission that resulted was negligible compared to the light reflected by the petals, so it was concluded that in this case only reflectance signals should be relevant in biosignal communication with pollinators. In addition, a quantitative estimation of the relative amount of photons absorbed by eye photoreceptors was achieved. Quantum catches were calculated for humans, for honeybees and for a species of bird. Contrasts to background values were also estimated in relation to the ability to detect flowers.

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Abbreviations

Φ f :

Fluorescence quantum yield

Qi:

Quantum catch for photoreceptor i

Ci:

Contrast to background for the photoreceptor i

L:

Long wavelength

M:

Medium wavelength

S:

Short wavelength

VS:

Very short wavelength

λ:

Wavelength

dλ:

Differential of wavelength

Si:

Photoreceptor spectral sensitivity

R(λ):

Reflectance spectrum of petals

Rb(λ):

Reflectance spectrum of background

I(λ):

Quantum-based illumination spectrum

Pi:

Photons absorbed by photoreceptor i from the flower

Pib:

Photons absorbed by the photoreceptor i from the background

J0:

Integrated scattered light from the blank

J:

Integrated scattered light from the petals

I0:

Scattered light intensity from the blank

I:

Scattered light intensity from the petals

Jf:

Emission spectrum from the petals

Anth:

Anthocyanins

D65:

Standard noon daylight illuminant

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INQUIMAE/Dpto. de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Qca. Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1er piso, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Analia Iriel & María Gabriela Lagorio

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  1. Analia Iriel
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  2. María Gabriela Lagorio
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Correspondence to María Gabriela Lagorio.

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Iriel, A., Lagorio, M.G. Implications of reflectance and fluorescence of Rhododendron indicum flowers in biosignaling. Photochem Photobiol Sci 9, 342–348 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1039/b9pp00104b

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