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- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt,

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maple specialist with the
University of Vermont Extension,

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and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.

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Autumn colors and leaves of maple trees

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is an annual phenomenon

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that is highly prized for its beauty

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and also economically important.

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As day length shortens,

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the tree stops making new
green chlorophyll pigment,

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while the chlorophyll already
in the leaves breaks down.

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Without the green to mask it,

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the yellow and orange carotenoid pigments

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become more visible.

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In some species, like maples,

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red anthocyanins pigments

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are actively produced around this time.

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Research results suggest
that the production

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of red pigments might help plants

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by protecting leaves while
they reabsorb nitrogen,

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before the leaves fall.

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There is no foolproof way to predict how

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the fall foliage season will progress.

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The intensity of color can
depend on many factors,

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but it is generally understood
that cool weather creates

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the conditions that produce
more vibrant colors,

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but that freezing temperatures

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can also cause these colors to fade.

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The weather on a given day can also impact

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the perception of color,

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as well as the mix of species present,

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and the topography of
a particular location.

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This is Mark Isselhardt,

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maple specialist with the
University of Vermont Extension,

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and this has been another
Vermont Maple Minute.