Using the following list of stars, what color is the most efficient for plants to absorb the ideal amount of energy? (This is not a complete list of star types, just some big examples)
- Yellow Dwarf Stars
- Orange Dwarf Stars
- Red Dwarf Stars
- Brown Dwarfs
- Blue Giant Stars
- Red Giant Stars
- Red Super giant Stars
- White Dwarfs
Note that the plants on earth are green to reflect that part of the spectrum of light, even though it would be very efficient for plants to use that light. This is probably because using green light is too energy intense for plants to not be damaged. (Based on my understanding and this article https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_are_plants_green)
So it would follow that other stars of different types may not produce plants of the color most efficient, but of a safe color for the plants ,and high enough in energy to support them.
So where do we begin? The color of the light produced by stars? For example, our sun is a yellow dwarf, and it produces all colors of the spectrum, but green is the most intense, and the plants on earth are a majority green. So do these hypothetical plant colors match the most intense color of light coming from their sun to protect themselves from it? Or as this article says, it may be as simple as the color the plants receive the least of.
"Scientists have long known that the chlorophyll in most plants on Earth absorbs blue and red light and less green light. Therefore, chlorophyll appears green. Although some green color is absorbed, it is less than the other colors. Previously, scientists thought plants are not efficient as they could be, because they do not use more green light. According to scientists, the Sun has a specific distribution of colors of light, emitting more of some colors than others. Gases in Earth's air also filter sunlight, absorbing different colors. As a result, more red light particles reach Earth's surface than blue or green light particles, so plants use red light for photosynthesis. There is plenty of light for land plants, so they do not need to use extra green light. But not all stars have the same distribution of light colors as our Sun. Study scientists say they now realize that photosynthesis on extrasolar planets will not necessarily look the same as on Earth" -https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/spectrum_plants.html
My second, and more specific question is, what color of star would encourage a blue color scheme in plants? I am working on an earth-like planet and am looking for a way for the vegetation to be blue-based. Is it as simple as picking a blue star, or are there some subtle nuances I am missing out on, like the article previously mentioned stated?