What causes the yellow color present in the skin of a lemon?

Question

What causes the yellow color present in the skin of a lemon?

Question #130422. Asked by austinnene.
Last updated Apr 09 2013.
Originally posted Apr 09 2013 12:12 PM.

looney_tunes

Answer has 7 votes

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looney_tunes

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20 year member
3342 replies avatar

Answer has 7 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

Lemons are green initially due the presence of chlorophyll pigment in their skin. Gradually they turn yellow as they mature. This is due to the production of xanthophyll and carotene pigments in the lemon skin.

http://www.experts123.com/q/why-are-lemons-yellow.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthophyll

Apr 09 2013, 12:54 PM

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Answer 1

Jennifer5

Answer has 4 votes

Jennifer5

17 year member
119 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Lemons turn yellow as they ripen; however, if the lemons turn yellow before ripening and the foliage of the tree also turns yellow this may be indicative of disease:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8531323_do-lemons-turn-yellow.html

Apr 09 2013, 12:18 PM