Why Trees Lose Their Leaves?

In regions of the world where there is extreme cold, at the onset of winter season trees begin to lose their leaves. The cause generally associated with this phenomenon is conservation of energy foreseen in unfavorable season to protect the tree from extra damage.

The process of leave shedding proper starts from the point of time when organic compounds begin to break and the nutritional substances, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, already present in the tree leaves begin to be re-absorbed back by the trees for further use in the next growing season.

Tree without Leaves Why Trees Lose Their Leaves?

Normally extreme cold is considered harsh weather condition for the plant leaves to remain intact. When winter sets in, leaves of plants start losing their water for two reasons: one, there is little amount of ‘free water’ in the soil, second, in the absence of a consistent water supply from bottom, leaves start losing relatively greater amounts of water due to dry winds in the winter season and high speed of air passing beneath the leave surface.

Water loss in huge proportions may at times jeopardize the survival of plant life. When an excess of water escapes the leave surface, it loses its turgidity and eventually wilts or drops, a natural phenomenon to prevent the tree from further water loss. About petiole a layer of cells is formed that liberates peculiar enzymes meant for ceding the leave from its trunk. After substantial amounts of foliage drop off the tree, it enters into a dormant phase. While a tree is undergoing a dormant state, little amount of energy is required for its survival.

In summer when the days are long, there is greater magnitude of sunlight available for photosynthesis, whereas in winter there is a little amount of day light because of short day duration and the leaves are made to depend on stored food for their survival.

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