Hypothesis, the water present in the leaves would be extremely susceptible to the freeze thaw cycle, causing them to burst and explode during the winter. It would be much more difficult to repair that damage than it is for a tree to bud out new leaves.
I suppose I chose the wrong sub then. I understand the conservation of energy and nutrients required by a tree for the dormant phase of its growing. I was looking for your very specific answer about abscission. So thank you for that!
My theory relating to the sudden heating of the petiole does make it seem like I have at least a 6 year old’s understanding of tree biology, so probably the wrong sub…
ShookeSpear OP t1_iuatzhc wrote
Reply to comment by Practical_Chef497 in Eli5: What causes leaves to fall off trees? by ShookeSpear
Hypothesis, the water present in the leaves would be extremely susceptible to the freeze thaw cycle, causing them to burst and explode during the winter. It would be much more difficult to repair that damage than it is for a tree to bud out new leaves.