What is the real reason to change the color when the leaves fall in autumn?

ByUwe Hermann

The autumn leaves season has come in 2015,Nikko in Tochigi prefectureIt seems that it has the best time to see as early as possible. Speaking of such autumn leaves, it is a leaf of trees that dyes mountains in vivid colors such as yellow and red, but "Why does Konoha change its color?A movie titled "The Real Reason Leaves Change Color In the Fall" has been released that clearly explains the answer to the simple question of "Is it False?"

The Real Reason Leaves Change Color In the Fall - YouTube


Some people may have heard that deciduous leaves change colors when autumn turns out that leaves lose chlorophyll (chlorophyll).


However, in this explanation only, I do not know until "why the color changes".


Deciduous trees drop their leaves every winter and at times when moisture is scarce. This is because the leaf has a function to evaporate moisture from the roots sucked up from the roots, and if you do this work during the severe cold season it will wither with a lack of water. In other words, deciduous trees protect themselves and, in the winter, they dare to drop leaves that produce nutrition.


However, the effect of this fallen leaf "discards" leaves with many nutrients, so it is very wastefully felt.


Therefore, the deciduous tree absorbs nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contained in fallen leaves deposited on the ground ... ...


We will nourish these new leaves.


In addition to that, not only deciduous trees become cold, they decompose the tissue for storing energy generated by photosynthesis, store nitrogen and phosphorus forming them in the branches, and wait for the next spring.



This decomposition action is very tricky, so chlorophyll continues photosynthesis even when tissue breakdown begins ... ...


It generates energy. However, because the organization for storing energy is gone ... ...


It will interfere with destroying the cell and carrying nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to the trunk and branches of the tree.


When destruction of cells is minimal, the leaf chlorophyll is destroyed ... ...



The yellow pigment (carotenoid) remains and the leaves turn yellow.


On the other hand, when the bright green molecule disappears, the yellow and orange pigment remains ...


It will turn yellow and orange leaves.


That's why the colors of the leaves are slightly different even for trees of the same kind.


Also, when chlorophyll decomposes, it creates a cell membrane called "delamination" that blocks chlorophyll from sunlight. If this "delamination" is possible, the leaves will not be able to flow through the trees, the leaves will accumulate nutrients and waste products. Furthermore, red pigment (anthocyanin) is generated by hitting the fall ultraviolet ray there ... ...


A red leaf such as a maple is completed.


Deciduous trees are said to have obtained about 50% of nutrients from fallen leaves etc. in order to grow new leaves in the spring, and in the movie it is described as "the world's cleanest recycled plants" in the movie.