This is the story of The Three Little Pigments – chlorophylls, carotenoids and anthocyanins.

 

Pigment molecules absorb light of different wavelengths so that our eyes see the colours of the spectrum that they reflect or transmit.

chlorophyll b  chlorophyll a  anthocyanin  carotenoid

Chlorophylls, which capture the light energy that powers photosynthesis, are the pigments that make vegetation green, The bright pigments of autumnal leaves, mature fruits and other colourful plant parts generally result from the unmasking or accumulation of cell constituents belonging to two different families of biochemicals – carotenoids and phenolics.