Which pigment produces red and purple colors in fall?

• A. Carotenoids
• B. Anthocyanins
• C. Chlorophyll
• D. Xanthophylls

Answer: (B)

In fall, red and purple colors come from anthocyanins. These pigments are produced in late summer and autumn in many trees when light is bright and temperatures cool. As chlorophyll breaks down and fades, anthocyanins accumulate in the leaf cells’ vacuoles, yielding red to purple hues. The shade you see depends on the leaf’s pH and sugar levels, which influence the color intensity. Other pigments shape different fall colors: carotenoids (including xanthophylls) persist and create yellow to orange tones as chlorophyll declines, while chlorophyll itself is the green pigment that masks colors during the growing season but fades in autumn.