Bicolored display of Miconia albicans fruits: Evaluating visual and physiological functions of fruit colors

• Published in: American journal of botany Vol. 102; no. 9; pp. 1453 - 1461
• Main Authors: de Camargo, Maria Gabriela G., Schaefer, H. Martin, Habermann, Gustavo, Cazetta, Eliana, Soares, Natalia Costa, Morellato, Leonor Patrícia C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Botanical Society of America, Inc 01.09.2015; Botanical Society of America
• Subjects: Animals; anthocyanin photoprotection; Birds; Birds - physiology; Botany; Brazil; Chlorophyll; Color; Dispersal; Flowers & plants; frugivory; Fruit - growth & development; Fruit - physiology; fruit contrast; fruit phenology; fruit photosynthesis; Fruits; Gas exchange; Herbivory; Melastomataceae; Melastomataceae - growth & development; Melastomataceae - physiology; Miconia albicans; Physiology; Pigmentation; Seed Dispersal; Brazil; Melastomataceae; fruit contrast; fruit phenology; Miconia albicans; anthocyanin photoprotection; frugivory; fruit photosynthesis

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Most bird-dispersed fruits are green when unripe and become colored and conspicuous when ripe, signaling that fruits are ready to be consumed and dispersed. The color pattern for fruits of Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae), however, is the opposite, with reddish unripe and gre...