Red and yellow pigments in autumn leaves are associated with higher nitrogen resorption: A comment on Peña-Novas and Marchetti 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13903).

Species with red and yellow leaves in the fall have a greater resorption of their nitrogen before leaf fall than species with green leaves. This supports the photoprotection hypothesis that proposes that red and yellow pigments protect the leaves from photooxidative stress under cool temperatures and intense light that occur in the fall with the breakdown of chlorophyl, allowing a better recycling of nutrients.