Physiological Changes of Yellow Cultivars Leaves of Acer palmatum during Color-Changing Period

In order to reveal the physiological characteristics in the changes of maple leaf color,the contents of chlorophyll,carotenoid,anthocyanin and soluble sugar in three maple plants leaves were measured during the color-changing period from late October to December.The results showed that the chlorophyll content decreased gradually in three maple leaves.The chlorophyll a/b rose initially,and then went down.The carotenoid content rose initially,then went down,and then assumed the tendency of stability.The anthocyanin and soluble sugar content rose during the experiments.The ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoid,chlorophyll and anthocyanin,carotenoid and anthocyanin presented the downward trend.The anthocyanin had negative correlations with contents of chlorophyll,and significant positive correlations with soluble sugar.