Unveiling the relevance of fluorescence in nature. From Biosignals to technological applications

MARÍA GABRIELA LAGORIO

Córdoba

Simposio; 16th International Congress on Photobiology; 2014

International Union of Photobiology

Light signals are continuously emitted by biological beings. The analysis and interpretation of these signals may give information about their physiological state, ways of communication between species and presence of specific chemicals.    Once an optical signal is detected several basic questions arise: Is the magnitude of the optical signal important? How can it be quantified? Has it any relevant role in biology? What is its origin? Does it allow obtaining information on the system in a non-destructive way? How much information (physiological, chemical, etc.) can be obtained from the signal processing?   In this presentation I will focus on the fluorescence emission and I will show our contributions in answering some of these questions for different natural systems (Figure 1): flowers [1], birds [2], frogs, leaves [3], fruits [4] and plant containing nutraceutics [5]. Wherever possible, physical models have being developed to rationalize the observed fluorescence.                     Figure 1. Studied natural systems   Acknowledgments MGL acknowledges the University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT 20020100100814) and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2012-2357) for financial support.   [1] A. A. Iriel and M. G. Lagorio, Naturwissenschaften, 2010, 97, 915. [2] A. S. Barreira, M. G. Lagorio, D. A. Lijtmaer, C. Lougheed, and P. L. Tubaro, J. Zoology, 2012, 288, 13. [3] G. B. Cordon and M. G. Lagorio, Photoch. Photobiol. Sc. 2006, 5, 735. [4] J. Mendes Novo, A. Iriel and M. G. Lagorio. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2012, 11, 724. [5] J. Mendes Novo, A. Iriel, M. C. Marchi and M. G. Lagorio. Photochem. Photobiol. 2013, 89, 1383.