They brighten our days with their sunny, vibrant and summery feel.
But as it turns out sunflowers are not just pretty to look at, they also have a hidden feature that may offer clues as to how plants can adapt to climate change.
That's because an ultraviolet (UV) bullseye pattern — which is invisible to humans — not only helps their flowers attract pollinators but also enables the plant to respond to stresses such as drought or extreme temperatures.
Experts from the University of British Columbia (UBC) found that the same molecules that produce these UV patterns in sunflowers are also involved in helping the plant to regulate water loss.
Their discovery potentially provides an insight into how plants can adapt to different climates.
Discovery: Sunflowers are not just pretty to look at, they also have a UV bullseye pattern (pictured) that may offer clues as to how plants can adapt to climate change, a study has found
That's because an ultraviolet bullseye pattern (pictured middle) — which is invisible to humans — not only helps their flowers attract pollinators but also enables the plant to respond to stresses such as drought or extreme temperatures
'Unexpectedly, we noticed that sunflowers growing in drier climates had flowers with larger UV bullseyes, and found that those flowers are able to retain water more efficiently,' said lead author Dr. Marco Todesco, a research associate at UBC's biodiversity research centre and
