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Pattern formation in Passiflora incarnata: An activator-inhibitor model

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Abstract

Based on a careful examination of the onset of violet colored dots along the filaments in the develo** floral bud stage and the formation of alternating bands of violet and white color in the matured flowers of Passiflora incarnata (Passion flower), it is concluded that the pattern arises from a competition between the production of violet colored anthocyanin and the colorless flavonols along the filaments. The activator-inhibitor model of Gierer and Meinhardt along with the reaction diffusion theory of Turing is used to explain the formation of concentric rings in the flower.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Amitabh Nandi and Dr. Vinod Gaur for their suggestions in the initial stages of the work and Dr. T. Ramasami for helpful discussions while preparing the manuscript. NS is grateful to the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, for a J C Bose National Fellowship (2006-2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Centre for Computational Science, University College London, London, UK

    Agastya P. Bhati

  2. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Manauli, 140306, India

    S. Goyal, Ram Yadav & N. Sathyamurthy

Authors
  1. Agastya P. Bhati
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  2. S. Goyal
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  3. Ram Yadav
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  4. N. Sathyamurthy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Sathyamurthy.

Additional information

Communicated by BJ Rao.

Corresponding editor: B J Rao

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Bhati, A.P., Goyal, S., Yadav, R. et al. Pattern formation in Passiflora incarnata: An activator-inhibitor model. J Biosci 46, 84 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-021-00202-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-021-00202-1

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