Abstract

In this paper we report evidence of structural color in Myxomycetes, a group of eukaryotic microorganisms with an uncertain taxonomic position. We investigated the Diachea leucopoda, which belongs to the Physarales order, Myxomycetes class, and found that its peridium-protective layer that encloses the mass of spores- is basically a corrugated layer of a transparent material, which produces a multicolored pointillistic effect, characteristic of this species. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microspcopy techniques have been employed to characterize the samples. A simple optical model of a planar slab is proposed to calculate the reflectance. The chromaticity coordinates are obtained, and the results confirm that the color observed is a result of an interference effect.

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References

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  1. S. Berthier, Iridescences, the physical colours of insects, (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, France, 2007).
  2. S. Kinoshita, Structural colors in the realm of nature, (World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 2008).
    [Crossref]
  3. A. Parker, “515 million years of structural colour,” J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt. 2, R15–R28 (2000).
    [Crossref]
  4. M. Srinivasarao, “Nano-optics in the biological world: beetles, butterflies, birds, and moths,” Chem. Rev. 99, 1935–1961 (1999).
    [Crossref]
  5. P. Vukusic and J. R. Sambles, “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  6. P. Vukusic and D. G. Stavenga, “Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S133–S148 (2009).
    [PubMed]
  7. S. M. Doucet and M. G. Meadows, “Iridescence: a functional perspective,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S115–S132 (2009).
    [PubMed]
  8. S. Yoshioka and S. Kinoshita, “Single-scale spectroscopy of structurally colored butterflies: measurements of quantified reflectance and transmittance,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 23, 134–141 (2006).
    [Crossref]
  9. W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
    [Crossref]
  10. R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
    [Crossref]
  11. “Biomimetics and bioinspiration,” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Volume 7401, 183 (2009).
  12. S. Stephenson and H. Stempen, “Myxomycetes. A handbook of slime molds,” Timber Press, Hong Kong, pp. 183 (2000).
  13. H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  14. J. D. Schoknecht and H. W. Keller, “Peridial composition of white fructifications in the trichiales (Perichaena and Dianema),” Can. J. Bot. 55, 1807–1819 (1977).
    [Crossref]
  15. H. C. Aldrich, “Influence of inorganic ions on color of lime in the myxomycetes,” Mycologia 74, 404–411 (1982).
    [Crossref]
  16. T. W. Gaither and H. W. Keller, “Taxonomic comparison of Diachea subsessilis and D. Deviata (Myxomycetes, Didymiaceae) using scanning electron microscopy,” Syst. Geogr. Pl. 74, 217–230 (2004).
  17. T. P. O’Brien and M. E. McCully, “The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods,” Termarcarphi Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia (1981).
  18. U. Eliasson, “Ultrastructure of Lycogala and Reticularia,” Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 77, 243–249 (1981).
    [Crossref]
  19. E. F. Haskins and M. D. McGuiness, “Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum,” Mycologia 81, 303–307 (1989).
    [Crossref]
  20. R. McHugh and C. Reid, “Sporangial ultrastructure of Hemitrichia minor (Myxomycetes: Trichiales),” Mycological Research 94, 1144–1146 (1990).
    [Crossref]
  21. E. Hecht, Optica, (Addison Wesley Iberoamericana ed., Madrid, 2000).
  22. R. Lozano, El color y su medición, (Americalee Ed., Argentina, 1978).
  23. B. Gralak, G. Tayeb, and S. Enoch, “Morpho butterflies wings color modeled with lamellar grating theory,” Opt. Express 9, 567 (2001).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  24. The website EasyRGB http://www.easyrgb.com has the application Color calculator which converts color data to different color standards.

2009 (2)

P. Vukusic and D. G. Stavenga, “Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S133–S148 (2009).
[PubMed]

S. M. Doucet and M. G. Meadows, “Iridescence: a functional perspective,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S115–S132 (2009).
[PubMed]

2008 (1)

R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
[Crossref]

2006 (2)

S. Yoshioka and S. Kinoshita, “Single-scale spectroscopy of structurally colored butterflies: measurements of quantified reflectance and transmittance,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 23, 134–141 (2006).
[Crossref]

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

2004 (2)

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

T. W. Gaither and H. W. Keller, “Taxonomic comparison of Diachea subsessilis and D. Deviata (Myxomycetes, Didymiaceae) using scanning electron microscopy,” Syst. Geogr. Pl. 74, 217–230 (2004).

2003 (1)

P. Vukusic and J. R. Sambles, “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2001 (1)

2000 (1)

A. Parker, “515 million years of structural colour,” J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt. 2, R15–R28 (2000).
[Crossref]

1999 (1)

M. Srinivasarao, “Nano-optics in the biological world: beetles, butterflies, birds, and moths,” Chem. Rev. 99, 1935–1961 (1999).
[Crossref]

1990 (1)

R. McHugh and C. Reid, “Sporangial ultrastructure of Hemitrichia minor (Myxomycetes: Trichiales),” Mycological Research 94, 1144–1146 (1990).
[Crossref]

1989 (1)

E. F. Haskins and M. D. McGuiness, “Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum,” Mycologia 81, 303–307 (1989).
[Crossref]

1982 (1)

H. C. Aldrich, “Influence of inorganic ions on color of lime in the myxomycetes,” Mycologia 74, 404–411 (1982).
[Crossref]

1981 (1)

U. Eliasson, “Ultrastructure of Lycogala and Reticularia,” Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 77, 243–249 (1981).
[Crossref]

1977 (1)

J. D. Schoknecht and H. W. Keller, “Peridial composition of white fructifications in the trichiales (Perichaena and Dianema),” Can. J. Bot. 55, 1807–1819 (1977).
[Crossref]

Aldrich, H. C.

H. C. Aldrich, “Influence of inorganic ions on color of lime in the myxomycetes,” Mycologia 74, 404–411 (1982).
[Crossref]

Berthier, S.

S. Berthier, Iridescences, the physical colours of insects, (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, France, 2007).

Ding, J.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Doucet, S. M.

S. M. Doucet and M. G. Meadows, “Iridescence: a functional perspective,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S115–S132 (2009).
[PubMed]

Eliasson, U.

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

U. Eliasson, “Ultrastructure of Lycogala and Reticularia,” Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 77, 243–249 (1981).
[Crossref]

Enoch, S.

Fan, T.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Gaither, T.

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Gaither, T. W.

T. W. Gaither and H. W. Keller, “Taxonomic comparison of Diachea subsessilis and D. Deviata (Myxomycetes, Didymiaceae) using scanning electron microscopy,” Syst. Geogr. Pl. 74, 217–230 (2004).

Gralak, B.

Gu, J.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Guo, Q.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Haskins, E. F.

E. F. Haskins and M. D. McGuiness, “Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum,” Mycologia 81, 303–307 (1989).
[Crossref]

Hecht, E.

E. Hecht, Optica, (Addison Wesley Iberoamericana ed., Madrid, 2000).

Keller, H. W.

T. W. Gaither and H. W. Keller, “Taxonomic comparison of Diachea subsessilis and D. Deviata (Myxomycetes, Didymiaceae) using scanning electron microscopy,” Syst. Geogr. Pl. 74, 217–230 (2004).

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

J. D. Schoknecht and H. W. Keller, “Peridial composition of white fructifications in the trichiales (Perichaena and Dianema),” Can. J. Bot. 55, 1807–1819 (1977).
[Crossref]

Kinoshita, S.

Lakhtakia, A.

R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
[Crossref]

Lozano, R.

R. Lozano, El color y su medición, (Americalee Ed., Argentina, 1978).

Martín-Palma, R. J.

R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
[Crossref]

McCully, M. E.

T. P. O’Brien and M. E. McCully, “The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods,” Termarcarphi Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia (1981).

McGuiness, M. D.

E. F. Haskins and M. D. McGuiness, “Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum,” Mycologia 81, 303–307 (1989).
[Crossref]

McHugh, R.

R. McHugh and C. Reid, “Sporangial ultrastructure of Hemitrichia minor (Myxomycetes: Trichiales),” Mycological Research 94, 1144–1146 (1990).
[Crossref]

Meadows, M. G.

S. M. Doucet and M. G. Meadows, “Iridescence: a functional perspective,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S115–S132 (2009).
[PubMed]

O’Brien, T. P.

T. P. O’Brien and M. E. McCully, “The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods,” Termarcarphi Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia (1981).

Ogawa, H.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Pantano, C. G.

R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
[Crossref]

Parker, A.

A. Parker, “515 million years of structural colour,” J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt. 2, R15–R28 (2000).
[Crossref]

Reid, C.

R. McHugh and C. Reid, “Sporangial ultrastructure of Hemitrichia minor (Myxomycetes: Trichiales),” Mycological Research 94, 1144–1146 (1990).
[Crossref]

Sambles, J. R.

P. Vukusic and J. R. Sambles, “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Schoknecht, J. D.

J. D. Schoknecht and H. W. Keller, “Peridial composition of white fructifications in the trichiales (Perichaena and Dianema),” Can. J. Bot. 55, 1807–1819 (1977).
[Crossref]

Skrabal, M.

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Srinivasarao, M.

M. Srinivasarao, “Nano-optics in the biological world: beetles, butterflies, birds, and moths,” Chem. Rev. 99, 1935–1961 (1999).
[Crossref]

Stavenga, D. G.

P. Vukusic and D. G. Stavenga, “Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S133–S148 (2009).
[PubMed]

Stempen, H.

S. Stephenson and H. Stempen, “Myxomycetes. A handbook of slime molds,” Timber Press, Hong Kong, pp. 183 (2000).

Stephenson, S.

S. Stephenson and H. Stempen, “Myxomycetes. A handbook of slime molds,” Timber Press, Hong Kong, pp. 183 (2000).

Tayeb, G.

Vukusic, P.

P. Vukusic and D. G. Stavenga, “Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S133–S148 (2009).
[PubMed]

P. Vukusic and J. R. Sambles, “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Yoshioka, S.

Zhang, D.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Zhang, W.

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Appl. Phys. Lett. (1)

R. J. Martín-Palma, C. G. Pantano, and A. Lakhtakia, “Biomimetization of butterfly wings by the conformal-evaporated- film-by rotation technique for photonics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 083901 (2008).
[Crossref]

Bioinsp. Biomim. (1)

W. Zhang, D. Zhang, T. Fan, J. Ding, J. Gu, Q. Guo, and H. Ogawa, “Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates,” Bioinsp. Biomim. 1, 89–95 (2006).
[Crossref]

Can. J. Bot. (1)

J. D. Schoknecht and H. W. Keller, “Peridial composition of white fructifications in the trichiales (Perichaena and Dianema),” Can. J. Bot. 55, 1807–1819 (1977).
[Crossref]

Chem. Rev. (1)

M. Srinivasarao, “Nano-optics in the biological world: beetles, butterflies, birds, and moths,” Chem. Rev. 99, 1935–1961 (1999).
[Crossref]

J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt. (1)

A. Parker, “515 million years of structural colour,” J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt. 2, R15–R28 (2000).
[Crossref]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A (1)

J. R. Soc. Interface (2)

P. Vukusic and D. G. Stavenga, “Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S133–S148 (2009).
[PubMed]

S. M. Doucet and M. G. Meadows, “Iridescence: a functional perspective,” J. R. Soc. Interface 6, S115–S132 (2009).
[PubMed]

Mycologia (3)

H. C. Aldrich, “Influence of inorganic ions on color of lime in the myxomycetes,” Mycologia 74, 404–411 (1982).
[Crossref]

H. W. Keller, M. Skrabal, U. Eliasson, and T. Gaither, “Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and developmental observations of a new Myxomycete species of Diachea,” Mycologia 96, 537–547 (2004).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

E. F. Haskins and M. D. McGuiness, “Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum,” Mycologia 81, 303–307 (1989).
[Crossref]

Mycological Research (1)

R. McHugh and C. Reid, “Sporangial ultrastructure of Hemitrichia minor (Myxomycetes: Trichiales),” Mycological Research 94, 1144–1146 (1990).
[Crossref]

Nature (1)

P. Vukusic and J. R. Sambles, “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Opt. Express (1)

Syst. Geogr. Pl. (1)

T. W. Gaither and H. W. Keller, “Taxonomic comparison of Diachea subsessilis and D. Deviata (Myxomycetes, Didymiaceae) using scanning electron microscopy,” Syst. Geogr. Pl. 74, 217–230 (2004).

Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. (1)

U. Eliasson, “Ultrastructure of Lycogala and Reticularia,” Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 77, 243–249 (1981).
[Crossref]

Other (8)

The website EasyRGB http://www.easyrgb.com has the application Color calculator which converts color data to different color standards.

E. Hecht, Optica, (Addison Wesley Iberoamericana ed., Madrid, 2000).

R. Lozano, El color y su medición, (Americalee Ed., Argentina, 1978).

T. P. O’Brien and M. E. McCully, “The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods,” Termarcarphi Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia (1981).

“Biomimetics and bioinspiration,” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Volume 7401, 183 (2009).

S. Stephenson and H. Stempen, “Myxomycetes. A handbook of slime molds,” Timber Press, Hong Kong, pp. 183 (2000).

S. Berthier, Iridescences, the physical colours of insects, (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, France, 2007).

S. Kinoshita, Structural colors in the realm of nature, (World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 2008).
[Crossref]

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Figures (5)

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Diachea leucopoda observed under the optical microscope with different magnifications.

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Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

Scanning electron microscope images of the peridium with different magnifications.

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Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

Peridium cross section observed under SEM [(a), (b) and (c)] and TEM (d).

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Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.

Simplified model for the scattering process within the peridium. (a) For normal incidence, the light impinges upon the sample with different local angles; (b) the system is locally represented by a planar slab with varying incidence angle.

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Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.

Chromaticity coordinates of a homogeneous slab. (a) Normal incidence, for varying n 2 d; (b) d = 200 nm, n 2 = 1.48, for varying incidence angle; (c) d = 500 nm, n 2 = 1.58, for varying incidence angle. The arrows indicate the direction of increasing n 2 d (a) or θ 0 (b and c).

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Equations (7)

Equations on this page are rendered with MathJax. Learn more.

r q = r 12 q + t 12 q r 23 q t 21 q e i ϕ κ q ,
X = 1 k ∫ D ( λ ) R ( λ ) x ¯ ( λ ) d λ ,
Y = 1 k ∫ D ( λ ) R ( λ ) y ¯ ( λ ) d λ ,
Z = 1 k ∫ D ( λ ) R ( λ ) z ¯ ( λ ) d λ ,
x = X X + Y + Z ,
y = Y X + Y + Z ,
z = Z X + Y + Z .

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