Evolution of l‐DOPA 4,5‐dioxygenase activity allows for recurrent specialisation to betalain pigmentation in Caryophyllales

What is it about?

Betalain pigmentation is an unusual form of colouration that is unique to the flowering plant order Caryophyllales. It is familiar to the general reader as the colour of table beetroot. Here we argue that this form of pigmentation has evolved multiple times in the context of Caryophyllales.

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