What’s the first thing you notice when it turns into Fall? Maybe it’s the weather or the way people are getting ready for Halloween by putting up decorations and lights. Maybe you feel the weather getting colder. For most, it’s when the leaves change colors.
Have you ever stopped and wondered what makes the leaves change color? Well, the reason they change is because of the chlorophyll in the leaves. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that absorbs sunlight. Once it gets to fall, temperatures generally drop, and there is less sunlight for the chlorophyll to absorb, so the chlorophyll starts to break down. When the chlorophyll breaks down, this causes the green color to change. Trees no longer have to produce as much food but rather need to start preparing for the cold winter months.
Aside from green, leaves can change to three other colors. Those colors are yellow, orange, and red. While there may be varying shades of these colors present, those are the three main colors the leaves turn. When leaves are yellow, it’s because of the Carotenoids and Flavonoids. Carotenoids generally protect plants from excessive light damage. When they can no longer do this, the color in the plant changes. Flavonoids provide yellow, blue, and red pigments in plants that attract pollinators. Carotenoids and flavonoids are always present in the leaves, but they are only visible when the chlorophyll breaks down.
