International Journal of Botany1811-97001811-9719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijb.2010.35.40Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Berries are Simultaneously Attractive to Birds and Repulsive to Mammals]]>WittyM. YardA. KinardJ. L.AdekunleRuth O.1201061Berries are usually brightly pigmented with primary colors, for example Ilex americana (Holly) or Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato). In contrast, berries of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Trautv display bright patterns of pigments (red, green, blue and many intermediate shades) to attract animals and achieve seed dispersal. Our primary aim was to elucidate this unusual feature of A. brevipedunculata. In addition to this attractive feature, during our study we noticed two kinds of chemical structures that repel chewing animals and favor non-chewing animals; brittle (lignified) multicellular containers of poison (polyphenolic tannins) and idioblasts with raphides of calcium oxalate. Our secondary aim was to understand these contrasting features of A. brevipedunculata berries. Color changes may not be explained by simple changes in pH within pigment cells, titrating anthocyanins between various color forms. However, a RBVG (Red, Blue, Violet and Green) or Tetrachromatic Color model of animal vision can explain the formation of intermediate colors and pattern formation in these berries and suggests the target for berry attraction is birds not mammals because in addition to the three color receptors seen in humans, birds use a fourth near-ultraviolet receptors to achieve tetrachromatic vision. This is consistent with anatomical observations presented.]]>Bouropoulos, N., S. Weiner and L. Addadi,2001in Vitro interactions of crystal-associated macromolecules.]]>718811888Britton, N.L.,1881Carrington,20042004Chen, D.M., J.S. Collins and T.H. Goldsmith,1984225337340Cloney, R.A. and E. Florey,196889250280DeBolt, S., J. Hardie, S. Tyerman and C.M. Ford,2004Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet sauvignon: Ascorbic acid as precursor for both oxalic and tartaric acids as revealed by radiolabelling studies.]]>10134142Franceschi, V.R. and PA. Nakata,2005564171Gardner, R.O.,197550315317Giovannoni, J.,200152725749Hanlon, R.,200717R400R404Honkavaara, J., M. Koivula, E. Korpimaki, H. Siitari and J. Viitala,200298505511Kaufman, S.R. and W. Kaufman,2007pp: 204-206pp: 204-206Kelber, A., M. Vorobyev and D. Osorio,20037881118Kominami, Y., T. Sato, K. Takeshita, T. Manabe, A. Endo and N. Noma,20032323Korth, K.L., S.J. Doege, S.H. Park, F.L. Goggin and Q. Wang et al.,2006Medicago truncatula mutants demonstrate the role of plant calcium oxalate crystals as an effective defense against chewing insects.]]>141188195Li, X., D. Zhang, V.J. Lynch-Holm, T.W. Okita and V.R. Franceschi,2003133549559Naude, T.W. and V. Naidoo,20072007pp: 880-891pp: 880-891Nellis, D.W.,1998pp: 147pp: 147O'Brien, T.P., N. Feder and M.E. McCully,196459368373Oshima, Y. and Y. Uenoa,1993Ampelopsis brevipedunculata var. hancei roots.]]>33179182Peterson, R.L., C.A. Peterson and L.H. Melville,2008pp: 32pp: 32Rowe, M.H.,2002179398Tremaine, L.M., J.E. Bird and A.J. Quebbemann,1985233711Verkoelen, C.F. and J.C. Romijn,199624183191Witty, M., E. Braunstein and A. Chou,2010Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Tendrils.]]>Yabe, N., and H. Matsui,1997Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Vitaceae) extract on hepatic M cell culture: Function in collagen biosynthesis.]]>563144Zimmerman, A.,1893pp: 84pp: 84