Leaves play an important role in the life of plants. It helps produce sucrose, which determines the fate of the fruit. In addition, foliage also benefits the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide. The question arises: why do the leaves turn yellow and fall?
The leaves turn yellow for a simple reason. As the daylight hours decrease, photosynthesis decreases. As a result, chlorophyll (helps to produce sucrose) is destroyed and the leaves lose their green color.
And why are the leaves falling? There are several reasons for this:
Firstly, with the onset of cold weather and a decrease in humidity, the root system absorbs less liquid, and shedding leaves helps to reduce its evaporation. In this way, the tree sheds “ballast”, evenly distributing nutrients to other parts of the tree. This helps to better survive frosts (or heat in the case of a temperate climate).
Secondly, at the end of summer, the metabolism between branches and leaves slows down. As a result, a dense partition is formed, which does not allow the leaves to feed on tree juices. In this place, the stem becomes brittle and the leaves fall under the movement of the wind.
In addition, when the leaves fall, the tree tries to get rid of harmful substances. However, in this way there is a risk of losing useful minerals that feed the tree.
And, finally, November protects the tree from accumulation of snow on the crown. Otherwise, a large amount of snow under its own weight could break the branches and lead to the death of the plant.
But not all trees lose their leaves at the same time. Why do you think? Write your answers in the comments:
