Why do many leaves look yellow in autumn?
Yellow pigment was hidden by chlorophyll
The answer was Yellow pigment was hidden by chlorophyll. Here's the why, the decoys, and the source trail.
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As chlorophyll breaks down in autumn, yellow and orange pigments that were already present become more visible.
Yellow and orange pigments are present in leaves but can be masked by chlorophyll until autumn.
A good question makes the wrong answers feel close. Here is the clean read on the set.
- Yellow pigment was hidden by chlorophyll - correct answer.
- The leaves absorb more sunlight - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- Rain dyes the leaf tissue - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- Roots send up a yellow mineral - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
Yellow pigment was hidden by chlorophyll is the one to remember. As chlorophyll breaks down in autumn, yellow and orange pigments that were already present become more visible. Different pigments create different autumn colors.
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Sources: U.S. Forest Service