Development of petal nanoscale ridges that scatter light and influence animal behaviour

Flowers and the animals that pollinate them interact at the petal epidermis. It is this single layer of tissue that often provides the visual surface that advertises nectar and pollen rewards. We take an integrated evo-devo approach to understanding the petal epidermis, and our recent research has focused on its optical properties. In particular, we have been exploring the function and development of cuticular ridges present on the petal surface of a range of flowering plant species that scatter light, generating a “blue halo” effect which improves foraging efficiency of bumblebee pollinators. I will present recent work on these nanoscale ridges, describing a variety of developmental genetic and modelling approaches to understand their patterning and morphogenesis.