In autumn, nature begins a gorgeous drag show, with the leaves turning from green to yellow, to golden, orange, and yellow, bringing a beautiful visual feast to people. So, which photosynthetic pigment is caused by the yellowing of leaves?Let's unravel this mystery of color.
In spring and summer, green pigment is the dominant photosynthetic pigment in the leaves. Green pigment is the key pigment for photosynthesis in plant leaves, which gives plant leaves their emerald green color and captures light energy in photosynthesis to convert it into chemical energy to promote plant growth.
However, with the arrival of autumn, the temperature gradually drops, the sunlight decreases, and the plants are ready to go into a dormant state at this time. At this time, in order to reduce water loss, plants begin to reduce the production of chlorophyll, which is gradually degraded and converted into other pigments.
As chlorophyll gradually decreases, the carotenoid in the plant begins to show its strengths. Yellow pigment is a type of pigment found in the cytoplasm of plants, which mainly provides antioxidants for plants, protects leaves from damage from light and oxygen, and is also an important factor in causing leaves to turn yellow.
In addition to yellow pigment, flavonoids in some plants will also show up in autumn, making the leaves appear golden yellow, orange yellow and other colors, adding a different kind of gorgeous to the natural scenery in autumn.
In addition to the role of photosynthetic pigments, the color change of leaves in autumn is also affected by other factors. Lower temperatures, reduced light, and hormonal changes in plants may all affect the color change of leaves.
In autumn, the colorful foliage brings a visual feast to nature. From emerald green to golden and orange, this color shift is a physiological process for plants to cope with seasonal changes. It is also a reminder to cherish the beautiful colors that nature has given us and to gain insight into the mysteries of plant growth.