Jacobs, Matthew and Lopez-Garcia, Martin and Phrathep, O-Phart and Lawson, Tracy and Oulton, Ruth and Whitney, Heather M (2016) Photonic multilayer structure of Begonia chloroplasts enhances photosynthetic efficiency. Nature Plants, 2 (11). 16162-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.162
Jacobs, Matthew and Lopez-Garcia, Martin and Phrathep, O-Phart and Lawson, Tracy and Oulton, Ruth and Whitney, Heather M (2016) Photonic multilayer structure of Begonia chloroplasts enhances photosynthetic efficiency. Nature Plants, 2 (11). 16162-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.162
Jacobs, Matthew and Lopez-Garcia, Martin and Phrathep, O-Phart and Lawson, Tracy and Oulton, Ruth and Whitney, Heather M (2016) Photonic multilayer structure of Begonia chloroplasts enhances photosynthetic efficiency. Nature Plants, 2 (11). 16162-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.162
Abstract
Enhanced light harvesting is an area of interest for optimizing both natural photosynthesis and artificial solar energy capture<sup>1,2</sup>. Iridescence has been shown to exist widely and in diverse forms in plants and other photosynthetic organisms and symbioses<sup>3,4</sup>, but there has yet to be any direct link demonstrated between iridescence and photosynthesis. Here we show that epidermal chloroplasts, also known as iridoplasts, in shade-dwelling species of Begonia<sup>5</sup>, notable for their brilliant blue iridescence, have a photonic crystal structure formed from a periodic arrangement of the light-absorbing thylakoid tissue itself. This structure enhances photosynthesis in two ways: by increasing light capture at the predominantly green wavelengths available in shade conditions, and by directly enhancing quantum yield by 5-10% under low-light conditions. These findings together imply that the iridoplast is a highly modified chloroplast structure adapted to make best use of the extremely low-light conditions in the tropical forest understorey in which it is found<sup>5,6</sup>. A phylogenetically diverse range of shade-dwelling plant species has been found to produce similarly structured chloroplasts<sup>7-9</sup>, suggesting that the ability to produce chloroplasts whose membranes are organized as a multilayer with photonic properties may be widespread. In fact, given the well-established diversity and plasticity of chloroplasts<sup>10,11</sup>, our results imply that photonic effects may be important even in plants that do not show any obvious signs of iridescence to the naked eye but where a highly ordered chloroplast structure may present a clear blue reflectance at the microscale. Chloroplasts are generally thought of as purely photochemical; we suggest that one should also think of them as a photonic structure with a complex interplay between control of light propagation, light capture and photochemistry.
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Chloroplasts; Thylakoids; Begoniaceae; Plant Epidermis; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Photosynthesis |
Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QK Botany |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Life Sciences, School of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 01 Dec 2016 11:06 |
Last Modified: | 18 Jun 2025 00:28 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/18303 |
Available files
Filename: Jacobs et al.pdf