Plant Pigment - Absorption Of Radiation

An absorption spectrum is a measure of the wavelengths of radiation that a pigment absorbs. The selective absorption of different wavelengths determines the color of a pigment. For example, the chlorophylls of higher plants absorb red and blue wavelengths, but not green wavelengths, and this gives leaves their characteristic green color. The molecular structure of a pigment determines its absorption,.

Plant Pigment - Chlorophylls

The chlorophylls are used to drive photosynthesis and are the most important plant pigments. Chlorophylls occur in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. In plants and algae, they are located in the inner membranes of chloroplasts, organelles (membrane enclosed structures) within plant cells which perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis uses the light energy absorbed by chlorophylls to synthesis

Plant Pigment - Carotenoids

Carotenoids are yellow, orange, or red pigments synthesized by many plants, fungi, and bacteria. In plants, carotenoids can occur in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Within a plant cell, carotenoids are found in the membranes of plastids, organelles surrounded by characteristic double membranes. Chloroplasts are the most important type of plastid and they synthesize and store carotenoids…

Plant Pigment - Flavonoids

Flavonoids are widely distributed plant pigments. They are water soluble and commonly occur in vacuoles, membrane-enclosed structures within cells which also store water and nutrients. Interestingly, light absorption by other photoreceptive plant pigments, such as phytochrome and flavins, induces synthesis of flavonoids in many species. Anthocyanins are the most common class of flavonoids

Plant Pigment - Phytochrome

Phytochrome is a blue-green plant pigment which regulates plant development, including seed germination, stem growth, leaf expansion, pigment synthesis, and flowering. Phytochrome has been found in most of the organs of seed plants and free-sporing plants. It has also been found in green algae. Although phytochrome is an important plant pigment, it occurs in very low concentrations and is not Visible
Plant Pigment - Additional Plant Pigments

Phycobilins are water soluble photosynthetic pigments. They are not present in higher plants, but do occur in red algae and the cyanobacteria, a group of photosynthetic bacteria. Betalains are red or yellow pigments which are synthesized by plants in ten different families. Interestingly, none of the species which have betalains also produce anthocyanins, even though these two pigments are unrelated