primary pigment

Pigment (biology)

In biology, a pigment or biochrome is any material resulting in color of plant or animal cells, which is the result of selective color absorption. Many biological structures, such as skin, eyes, fur and hair contain pigments (such as melanin) in specialized cells called chromatophores.


Biological pigments

Pigments in plants


Chlorophyll is the primary pigment in plants; it is a porphyrin that absorbs red and blue wavelengths of light while reflecting green. It is the presence and relative abundance of chlorophyll that gives plants their green color. All land plants and green algae possess two forms of this pigment: cholorphyll a and cholorphyll b. Kelps, diatoms, and other photosynthetic heterokonts contain chlorophyll c instead of b, while red algae possess only chlorophyll a. All chlorophylls serve as the primary means plants use to intercept light in order to fuel photosynthesis. chlorophyll is the reason most plants are of the colour green.


Anthocyanins (literally "flower blue") are water-soluble flavonoid pigments that appear red to blue, according to pH. They occur in all tissues of higher plants, providing color in leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits, though not always in sufficient quantities to be noticeable. Anthocyanins are most visible in the petals of flowers, where they may make up as much as 30% of the dry weight of the tissue. They are also responsible for the purple color seen on the underside of tropical shade plants such as Tradescantia zebrina; in these plants, the anthocyanin catches light that has passed through the leaf and reflects it back towards regions bearing chlorophyll, in order to maximize the use of available light.


Pigments in animals

Pigments in animals may serve to protect tissues from ultraviolet radiation, such as melanin in the skin. Pigments may also aid in sexual reproduction, identifying species and gender of animals to potential mates, or signalling readiness to breed.

Some cephalopods use pigmented chromatophores to communicate.

Pigmentation is used by many animals for protection, by means of camoflauge, mimicry, or warning coloration. Chameleons use pigments to blend into their surroundings by controlling the absorption levels of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Diseases and conditions

A variety of diseases and abnormal conditions that involve pigmentation arise in humans and animals, either from absence of or loss of pigmentation or pigment cells, or from the excess production of pigment.

  • Albinism is an inherited disorder characterized by total or partial loss of melanin. Humans and animals that suffer from albinism are called "albinistic" (the term "albino" is also sometimes used, but may be considered offensive when applied to people).
  • Lamellar ichthyosis, also called "fish scale disease", is an inherited condition in which one symptom is excess production of melanin. The skin is darker than normal, and is characterized by darkened, scaly, dry patches.
  • Melasma is a condition in which dark brown patches of pigment appear on the face, influenced by hormonal changes. When it occurs during a pregnancy, this condition is called the mask of pregnancy.
  • ocular pigmentation is an accumulation of pigment in the eye, and may be caused by latanoprost medication.
  • Vitiligo is a condition in which there is a loss of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes in patches of skin.

Commercial uses

Pigments may be extracted and used as dyes.


Grotewold, Erich. 2006. "The Genetics and Biochemistry of Floral Pigments." Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 56:761-80.

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