Why do leaves change color in fall?

Why are most plants green? why do leaves change color in the fall?

• Answer:

  Chlorophyll is the most important photosynthetic pigment in plants and also the one that gives leaves their green color. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to influence autumn leaf color-leaf pigments. Differences in timing among species seem to be genetically inherited. Temperature and moisture are the main influences. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.