Abstract Detail

Conference Wide

Whittall, Justen [1], Narbona, Eduardo [2], Del Valle, Jose Carlos [3].

The promises and perils of pigments: quantifying color in plants.

Flower color is an evolutionary metamodel in biology – a model trait whose biochemical, developmental and genetic pathway is largely conserved across a diversity of lineages. Metamodels allow for an integrated perspective of the ecological and evolutionary opportunities and constraints underlying variation in nature. Studying traits like flower color leverage the phylogenetic replication of independent evolutionary changes across large branches of the tree of life providing novel insights. However, methods for quantifying plant pigments and flower color in particular are diverse and continue to develop at a rapid pace. Choosing the most appropriate method often depends on the question at hand. In this workshop, we will introduce a variety of perspectives on plant pigments with an emphasis on flower color, anthocyanins and the flavonoids in general. We will demonstrate the application of several tools for quantifying flower color in both field and laboratory settings. These approaches include capturing and analyzing UV-Vis digital images, spectral reflectance, microscopy, biochemical techniques and how to apply different models of color perception. We will provide a toolbox of methods for quantifying color allowing participants to tailor their methods depending on their particular lines of investigation.

1 - Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 95053, United States
2 - Universidad Pablo de Olavide
3 - Universidad de Sevilla

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Workshop
Session: W05, The promises and perils of pigments: quantifying color in plants
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2020
Time: 3:00 PM
Number: W05001
Abstract ID:82
Candidate for Awards:None