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Petal 'windows' affect the abundance of microbes within flowers
Some flowers have petals with small semitranslucent sections. Research in New Phytologist reveals that these "windows" alter the amount of light and heat entering the flower and create conditions that influence microbial abundance.
AI Summary
Some flowers possess petals with small semitranslucent “windows.” A study published in *New Phytologist* found that these windows change the light and heat that enter the flower, thereby affecting the microbes that live inside. Field experiments showed that the windows transmit more ultraviolet and infrared radiation than the surrounding pigmented petal tissue. The altered radiation conditions create a different microenvironment that influences microbial abundance within the flower.
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