Yellowish colour of autumn foliage is due to the presence of a type of xanthophyll pigment called as

Options

A. lutein
B. lycopene
C. fucoxanthin
D. zeaxanthin.

Explanation

To answer the question regarding the yellowish color of autumn foliage, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Autumn Foliage**:
- Autumn foliage refers to the change in color of leaves in deciduous trees and shrubs during the autumn season. This phenomenon results in various shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple.

2. **Role of Chlorophyll**:
- The green color of leaves is primarily due to the presence of chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis. During autumn, as the temperature drops and daylight decreases, chlorophyll begins to degrade.

3. **Revealing Hidden Pigments**:
- As chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments that were previously masked by chlorophyll become visible. These pigments include xanthophylls (which are yellow) and carotenoids (which can be orange).

4. **Identifying Xanthophylls**:
- Xanthophylls are a type of carotenoid pigment that contribute to the yellow color in leaves. The specific type of xanthophyll responsible for the yellowish color in autumn foliage is what we need to identify.

5. **Evaluating the Options**:
- The options provided are:
- Lutein
- Lycopene
- Fucoxanthin
- Zeaxanthin
- Among these, lutein and zeaxanthin are both xanthophylls. Lycopene is a carotenoid but not a xanthophyll, and fucoxanthin is found in brown algae.

6. **Selecting the Correct Answer**:
- Since the question specifically asks for a type of xanthophyll that contributes to the yellow color, the correct answer is **zeaxanthin**.

### Final Answer:
The yellowish color of autumn foliage is due to the presence of a type of xanthophyll pigment called **zeaxanthin**.

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