Evolution of autumn leaf coloration of silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) with color spectrophotometer

Abstract

Due to the presence of chlorophyll pigments, leaves are typically green during the vegetation period. Chlorophyll captures solar energy and uses it to synthesize simple sugars from water and carbon dioxide. As daylight shortens and temperatures drop in autumn, chlorophyll levels decline, causing leaf color to shift from green to yellow, orange, red, and eventually to "feuille morte" (dead leaf). In this study, spectrophotometric measurements of silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) leaf color using CIE Lab* and CIE XYZ systems showed strong correlations with SPAD values, which indicate chlorophyll content. silver linden leaves were observed to be deep green in spring, gradually transitioning to silvery-white and finally yellow in autumn. Spectrophotometric data revealed that the highest SPAD value (50.26) was associated with the lowest lightness (L*: 34.19), yellowness (b*: 12.17), and chroma (C*: 15.84). In contrast, the lowest SPAD value (1.0) corresponded to the highest lightness (L*: 80.11), yellowness (b*: 67.55), and chroma (C*: 67.72). No negative b* values (blue tones) were recorded for Silver Linden. Additionally, dark green leaves with the highest SPAD value showed the lowest tristimulus values (X: 6.88, Y: 8.10, Z: 6.09).

Keywords

• Autumn color
• CIE color coordinates
• Leaf senescence
• Silver linden

Gümüşi ıhlamur (Tilia tomentosa) türünde sonbahar yaprak renklenmesinin renk spektrofotometresi ile evrimi

Öz

Klorofil pigmentlerinin varlığı nedeniyle, vejetasyon dönemi boyunca yapraklar tipik olarak yeşil renktedir. Klorofil, güneş enerjisini yakalayarak su ve karbondioksitten basit şekerlerin sentezinde kullanır. Günlerin kısalması ve sıcaklıkların düşmesiyle birlikte sonbaharda klorofil seviyesi azalır ve yaprak renginde yeşilden sarıya, turuncuya, kırmızıya ve nihayetinde “feuille morte” (ölü yaprak) tonlarına doğru bir değişim meydana gelir. Bu çalışmada, gümüşi ıhlamur (Tilia tomentosa) yapraklarının CIE Lab* ve CIE XYZ sistemleriyle yapılan spektrofotometrik renk ölçümleri, yapraklardaki klorofil içeriğini gösteren SPAD değerleriyle güçlü korelasyonlar göstermiştir. Gümüşi ıhlamur yapraklarının ilkbaharda koyu yeşil olduğu ve sonbaharda giderek gümüş beyaza, ardından sarı tonlarına dönüştüğü gözlemlenmiştir. En yüksek SPAD değeri (50.26), en düşük açıklık (L*: 34.19), sarılık (b*: 12.17) ve doygunluk (C*: 15.84) değerleriyle ilişkilendirilmiştir. En düşük SPAD değeri (1.0) ise en yüksek açıklık (L*: 80.11), sarılık (b*: 67.55) ve doygunluk (C*: 67.72) değerlerine karşılık gelmiştir. Gümüşi ıhlamur yapraklarında negatif b* değeri (mavi ton) tespit edilmemiştir. Ayrıca, en yüksek SPAD değerine sahip koyu yeşil yapraklar, en düşük tristimulus değerlerini (X: 6.88, Y: 8.10, Z: 6.09) göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sonbahar rengi
• CIE renk koordinatları
• Yaprak yaşlanması
• Gümüş ıhlamur

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