What color do carotenoids mainly reflect?

Carotenoids are pigments found in various plants that play a crucial role in photosynthesis and also contribute to the coloring of many fruits and vegetables. These pigments primarily reflect yellow and orange wavelengths of light, which is why many plants with high carotenoid content appear in those colors.

In particular, carotenoids absorb light most efficiently in the blue and green regions of the spectrum, allowing them to reflect the longer wavelengths associated with yellow and orange. This property not only aids in photosynthesis by capturing sunlight but also provides visual cues related to ripeness and nutritional content to herbivores and humans.

Thus, the reflectance of yellow and orange light by carotenoids is a fundamental aspect of their role in plant biology, especially in emphasizing their function and importance in both ecological and agricultural contexts.