Broad‐band colours of Virgo cluster low surface brightness dwarf irregular galaxies

We present UBVRI images and surface photometry of a complete sample of 29 low-luminosity dwarf irregular galaxies in the Virgo cluster, for which we derive central surface brightnesses, scalelengths, integrated magnitudes and median colours. The colour distributions are discussed in terms of radial surface brightness profiles, and colour gradients are interpreted and compared with corresponding ones for low surface-brightness (LSB) spiral galaxies. By combining broad-band and narrow-band filter observations, the past and current influences of the cluster environment on the evolution of LSB dwarf irregular galaxies is evaluated.