Cuticle chemistry drives the development of diffraction gratings on the surface of Hibiscus trionum petals

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.065
• Publication Date: 2022-11-23T18:38:48Z
• Authors: Edwige Moyroud; Chiara A. Airoldi; Jordan Ferria; Chiara Giorio; Sarah S. Steimer; Paula J. Rudall; Christina J. Prychid; Shannon Halliwell; Joseph F. Walker; Sarah Robinson; Markus Kalberer; Beverley J. Glover
• Keywords: Cuticle (hair); Petal; Hibiscus; Iridescence

Plants combine both chemical and structural means to appear colorful. We now have an extensive understanding of the metabolic pathways used by flowering plants synthesize pigments, but mechanisms remain obscure whereby cells produce microscopic structures sufficiently regular interfere with light create optical effect. Here, we transgenic approaches in a novel model system, Hibiscus trionum, analyses cuticle, lines different species Hibiscus, investigate formation semi-ordered diffraction grating on petal surface. show that regulating cuticle production epidermal cell growth is insufficient determine type cuticular pattern produced. Instead, composition plays crucial role restricting gratings pigmented region petal. This suggests buckling, driven spatiotemporal regulation chemistry, could surface at nanoscale.