Why leaves change color in the fall

What do the leaves of trees do during the spring and summer?

• Serve as factories for making food that is necessary for a tree’s growth

• Serve as factories for making proteins that are necessary for a tree’s development

• Provide surface area for insects to pollinate the flowers that grow on them

• Develop sturdy root systems to sustain them through the winter

“______, light and _______ have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color”

• temperature, water supply

• weather, darkness

• season, glucose

• rain, humidity

Why do leaves stop making food in the fall?

• Because of changes in the length of daylight and temperature

• Because of changes in the composition of the chloroplasts and chlorophyll

• Because their cells have an internal system that recognize and respond to changes in seasons

• Because trees hibernate throughout winter and do not require food

What kinds of trees don’t lose their leaves or change colors?

• Conifers like spruce or pine

• Deciduous tress like oaks and maples

• All trees lose their leaves

• Shade trees like willows

Rainy, overcast days tend to do what to fall colors?

• Change them to a different color

• Make them blend together

• Make them duller

• Increase their intensity

Which color does anthocyanin create?

• red/purple

• yellow

• orange

• blue

Which color does carotene create?

• red/purple

• yellow

• orange

• blue

Which color does xanthophyll create?

• red/purple

• yellow

• orange

• blue