Decoupled accumulation of chlorophylls and total carotenoids between floral and vegetative organs in Dendrobium
Feng-Ping Zhang, Le Yu, Qi-Yong Huang, Han-Run Li, Shi-Bao Zhang · 2026
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Description
Feng-Ping Zhang and colleagues compare flower and leaf pigments across 36 orchid species in the genus Dendrobium in a 2026 study. Chlorophylls and carotenoids drive photosynthesis, attract pollinators, and help plants cope with stress, yet flower and leaf pigments may follow different rules. Pigments were measured in petals, sepals, flower lips, roots, stems, and leaves.
Leaves held the most chlorophyll, while flower lips held the most carotenoids. Flower pigments varied far more across species than leaf pigments, and flower parts tracked each other closely while showing little link to vegetative parts. The pattern suggests that flower colour evolves freely to suit pollinators, while leaf chemistry stays conserved. The work helps explain how orchids diversify their blooms without changing their basic leaf machinery.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Feng-Ping Zhang, Le Yu, Qi-Yong Huang, Han-Run Li, Shi-Bao Zhang |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 37 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |