Review Tansley review The occurrence of red and yellow autumn leaves explained by regional differences in insolation and temperature Authors for correspondence: Susanne S. Renner1 and Constantin M. Zohner2 Susanne S. Renner 1 2 Tel: +49 89 17861 250 Systematic Botany and Mycology, University of Munich (LMU), Menzinger Str. 67, Munich 80638, Germany ; Institute of Email:
[email protected] Integrative Biology, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland Constantin M. Zohner Email:
[email protected] Received: 19 January 2019 Accepted: 24 April 2019 Contents Summary 1464 IV. The adaptive value of colour-changing leaves 1468 I. Introduction 1464 V. Outlook 1469 II. Phylogenetic and geographical occurrence of autumn colour Acknowledgements 1469 change 1465 References 1470 III. Physiological functions of autumnal leaf xanthophylls and anthocyanins 1466 Summary New Phytologist (2019) 224: 1464–1471 Red or yellow autumn leaves have long fascinated biologists, but their geographical doi: 10.1111/nph.15900 concentration in trees in Eastern North America (ENA) has defied evolutionary explanations. In this review, anthocyanins and xanthophylls are discussed in relation to their occurrence in Key words: adaptive explanation, different regions of the Northern Hemisphere, phylogenetic distribution and photoprotective anthocyanins, photo-oxidative damage, function during the breakdown of chlorophylls. Pigments in senescing leaves that intercept regional climates, solar irradiation, incident light and dissipate the absorbed energy extend the time available for nutrient resorption. xanthophylls. Experiments with Arabidopsis have revealed greatest anthocyanin photoprotective function at low temperatures and high light intensities, and high-resolution solar irradiation maps reveal that ENA and Asia receive higher irradiation than does Europe.