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Development of the idea

Overall reaction of photosynthesis.

  • Basic products of photosynthesis
  • Evolution of the process
  • Light intensity and temperature
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Internal factors
  • Energy efficiency of photosynthesis
  • Structural features
  • Light absorption and energy transfer
  • The pathway of electrons
  • Evidence of two light reactions
  • Photosystems I and II
  • Quantum requirements
  • The process of photosynthesis: the conversion of light energy to ATP
  • Elucidation of the carbon pathway
  • Carboxylation
  • Isomerization/condensation/dismutation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Regulation of the cycle
  • Products of carbon reduction
  • Photorespiration
  • Carbon fixation in C 4 plants
  • Carbon fixation via crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)
  • Differences in carbon fixation pathways
  • The molecular biology of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

Why is photosynthesis important?

What is the basic formula for photosynthesis, which organisms can photosynthesize.

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  • Table Of Contents

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is critical for the existence of the vast majority of life on Earth. It is the way in which virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things. As primary producers, photosynthetic organisms form the base of Earth’s food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms. Additionally, almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. If photosynthesis ceased, there would soon be little food or other organic matter on Earth, most organisms would disappear, and Earth’s atmosphere would eventually become nearly devoid of gaseous oxygen.

The process of photosynthesis is commonly written as: 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 . This means that the reactants, six carbon dioxide molecules and six water molecules, are converted by light energy captured by chlorophyll (implied by the arrow) into a sugar molecule and six oxygen molecules, the products. The sugar is used by the organism, and the oxygen is released as a by-product.

The ability to photosynthesize is found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The most well-known examples are plants, as all but a very few parasitic or mycoheterotrophic species contain chlorophyll and produce their own food. Algae are the other dominant group of eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms. All algae, which include massive kelps and microscopic diatoms , are important primary producers.  Cyanobacteria and certain sulfur bacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes, in whom photosynthesis evolved. No animals are thought to be independently capable of photosynthesis, though the emerald green sea slug can temporarily incorporate algae chloroplasts in its body for food production.

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photosynthesis , the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy . During photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is captured and used to convert water , carbon dioxide , and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds .

It would be impossible to overestimate the importance of photosynthesis in the maintenance of life on Earth . If photosynthesis ceased, there would soon be little food or other organic matter on Earth. Most organisms would disappear, and in time Earth’s atmosphere would become nearly devoid of gaseous oxygen. The only organisms able to exist under such conditions would be the chemosynthetic bacteria , which can utilize the chemical energy of certain inorganic compounds and thus are not dependent on the conversion of light energy.

How are plant cells different from animal cells?

Energy produced by photosynthesis carried out by plants millions of years ago is responsible for the fossil fuels (i.e., coal , oil , and gas ) that power industrial society . In past ages, green plants and small organisms that fed on plants increased faster than they were consumed, and their remains were deposited in Earth’s crust by sedimentation and other geological processes. There, protected from oxidation , these organic remains were slowly converted to fossil fuels. These fuels not only provide much of the energy used in factories, homes, and transportation but also serve as the raw material for plastics and other synthetic products. Unfortunately, modern civilization is using up in a few centuries the excess of photosynthetic production accumulated over millions of years. Consequently, the carbon dioxide that has been removed from the air to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis over millions of years is being returned at an incredibly rapid rate. The carbon dioxide concentration in Earth’s atmosphere is rising the fastest it ever has in Earth’s history, and this phenomenon is expected to have major implications on Earth’s climate .

Requirements for food, materials, and energy in a world where human population is rapidly growing have created a need to increase both the amount of photosynthesis and the efficiency of converting photosynthetic output into products useful to people. One response to those needs—the so-called Green Revolution , begun in the mid-20th century—achieved enormous improvements in agricultural yield through the use of chemical fertilizers , pest and plant- disease control, plant breeding , and mechanized tilling, harvesting, and crop processing. This effort limited severe famines to a few areas of the world despite rapid population growth , but it did not eliminate widespread malnutrition . Moreover, beginning in the early 1990s, the rate at which yields of major crops increased began to decline. This was especially true for rice in Asia. Rising costs associated with sustaining high rates of agricultural production, which required ever-increasing inputs of fertilizers and pesticides and constant development of new plant varieties, also became problematic for farmers in many countries.

Photosynthesis diagram showing how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant and that oxygen and sugars are produced. Also show a person to illustrate the oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle between plants and animals.

A second agricultural revolution , based on plant genetic engineering , was forecast to lead to increases in plant productivity and thereby partially alleviate malnutrition. Since the 1970s, molecular biologists have possessed the means to alter a plant’s genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA ) with the aim of achieving improvements in disease and drought resistance, product yield and quality, frost hardiness, and other desirable properties. However, such traits are inherently complex, and the process of making changes to crop plants through genetic engineering has turned out to be more complicated than anticipated. In the future such genetic engineering may result in improvements in the process of photosynthesis, but by the first decades of the 21st century, it had yet to demonstrate that it could dramatically increase crop yields.

Another intriguing area in the study of photosynthesis has been the discovery that certain animals are able to convert light energy into chemical energy. The emerald green sea slug ( Elysia chlorotica ), for example, acquires genes and chloroplasts from Vaucheria litorea , an alga it consumes, giving it a limited ability to produce chlorophyll . When enough chloroplasts are assimilated , the slug may forgo the ingestion of food. The pea aphid ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ) can harness light to manufacture the energy-rich compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP); this ability has been linked to the aphid’s manufacture of carotenoid pigments.

General characteristics

The study of photosynthesis began in 1771 with observations made by the English clergyman and scientist Joseph Priestley . Priestley had burned a candle in a closed container until the air within the container could no longer support combustion . He then placed a sprig of mint plant in the container and discovered that after several days the mint had produced some substance (later recognized as oxygen) that enabled the confined air to again support combustion. In 1779 the Dutch physician Jan Ingenhousz expanded upon Priestley’s work, showing that the plant had to be exposed to light if the combustible substance (i.e., oxygen) was to be restored. He also demonstrated that this process required the presence of the green tissues of the plant.

In 1782 it was demonstrated that the combustion-supporting gas (oxygen) was formed at the expense of another gas, or “fixed air,” which had been identified the year before as carbon dioxide. Gas-exchange experiments in 1804 showed that the gain in weight of a plant grown in a carefully weighed pot resulted from the uptake of carbon, which came entirely from absorbed carbon dioxide, and water taken up by plant roots; the balance is oxygen, released back to the atmosphere. Almost half a century passed before the concept of chemical energy had developed sufficiently to permit the discovery (in 1845) that light energy from the sun is stored as chemical energy in products formed during photosynthesis.

Chemical equation.

This equation is merely a summary statement, for the process of photosynthesis actually involves numerous reactions catalyzed by enzymes (organic catalysts ). These reactions occur in two stages: the “light” stage, consisting of photochemical (i.e., light-capturing) reactions; and the “dark” stage, comprising chemical reactions controlled by enzymes . During the first stage, the energy of light is absorbed and used to drive a series of electron transfers, resulting in the synthesis of ATP and the electron-donor-reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). During the dark stage, the ATP and NADPH formed in the light-capturing reactions are used to reduce carbon dioxide to organic carbon compounds. This assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic compounds is called carbon fixation.

Chemical equation.

Van Niel’s proposal was important because the popular (but incorrect) theory had been that oxygen was removed from carbon dioxide (rather than hydrogen from water, releasing oxygen) and that carbon then combined with water to form carbohydrate (rather than the hydrogen from water combining with CO 2 to form CH 2 O).

By 1940 chemists were using heavy isotopes to follow the reactions of photosynthesis. Water marked with an isotope of oxygen ( 18 O) was used in early experiments. Plants that photosynthesized in the presence of water containing H 2 18 O produced oxygen gas containing 18 O; those that photosynthesized in the presence of normal water produced normal oxygen gas. These results provided definitive support for van Niel’s theory that the oxygen gas produced during photosynthesis is derived from water.

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar.

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Most life on Earth depends on photosynthesis .The process is carried out by plants, algae, and some types of bacteria, which capture energy from sunlight to produce oxygen (O 2 ) and chemical energy stored in glucose (a sugar). Herbivores then obtain this energy by eating plants, and carnivores obtain it by eating herbivores.

The process

During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water (H 2 O) from the air and soil. Within the plant cell, the water is oxidized, meaning it loses electrons, while the carbon dioxide is reduced, meaning it gains electrons. This transforms the water into oxygen and the carbon dioxide into glucose. The plant then releases the oxygen back into the air, and stores energy within the glucose molecules.

Chlorophyll

Inside the plant cell are small organelles called chloroplasts , which store the energy of sunlight. Within the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast is a light-absorbing pigment called chlorophyll , which is responsible for giving the plant its green color. During photosynthesis , chlorophyll absorbs energy from blue- and red-light waves, and reflects green-light waves, making the plant appear green.

Light-dependent Reactions vs. Light-independent Reactions

While there are many steps behind the process of photosynthesis, it can be broken down into two major stages: light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions. The light-dependent reaction takes place within the thylakoid membrane and requires a steady stream of sunlight, hence the name light- dependent reaction. The chlorophyll absorbs energy from the light waves, which is converted into chemical energy in the form of the molecules ATP and NADPH . The light-independent stage, also known as the Calvin cycle , takes place in the stroma , the space between the thylakoid membranes and the chloroplast membranes, and does not require light, hence the name light- independent reaction. During this stage, energy from the ATP and NADPH molecules is used to assemble carbohydrate molecules, like glucose, from carbon dioxide.

C3 and C4 Photosynthesis

Not all forms of photosynthesis are created equal, however. There are different types of photosynthesis, including C3 photosynthesis and C4 photosynthesis. C3 photosynthesis is used by the majority of plants. It involves producing a three-carbon compound called 3-phosphoglyceric acid during the Calvin Cycle, which goes on to become glucose. C4 photosynthesis, on the other hand, produces a four-carbon intermediate compound, which splits into carbon dioxide and a three-carbon compound during the Calvin Cycle. A benefit of C4 photosynthesis is that by producing higher levels of carbon, it allows plants to thrive in environments without much light or water. The National Geographic Society is making this content available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA license . The License excludes the National Geographic Logo (meaning the words National Geographic + the Yellow Border Logo) and any images that are included as part of each content piece. For clarity the Logo and images may not be removed, altered, or changed in any way.

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Biology Dictionary

Photosynthesis

BD Editors

Reviewed by: BD Editors

Photosynthesis Definition

Photosynthesis is the biochemical pathway which converts the energy of light into the bonds of glucose molecules. The process of photosynthesis occurs in two steps. In the first step, energy from light is stored in the bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). These two energy-storing cofactors are then used in the second step of photosynthesis to produce organic molecules by combining carbon molecules derived from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The second step of photosynthesis is known as the Calvin Cycle. These organic molecules can then be used by mitochondria to produce ATP, or they can be combined to form glucose, sucrose, and other carbohydrates. The chemical equation for the entire process can be seen below.

Photosynthesis Equation

Above is the overall reaction for photosynthesis. Using the energy from light and the hydrogens and electrons from water, the plant combines the carbons found in carbon dioxide into more complex molecules. While a 3-carbon molecule is the direct result of photosynthesis, glucose is simply two of these molecules combined and is often represented as the direct result of photosynthesis due to glucose being a foundational molecule in many cellular systems. You will also notice that 6 gaseous oxygen molecules are produced, as a by-produce. The plant can use this oxygen in its mitochondria during oxidative phosphorylation . While some of the oxygen is used for this purpose, a large portion is expelled into the atmosphere and allows us to breathe and undergo our own oxidative phosphorylation, on sugar molecules derived from plants. You will also notice that this equation shows water on both sides. That is because 12 water molecules are split during the light reactions, while 6 new molecules are produced during and after the Calvin cycle. While this is the general equation for the entire process, there are many individual reactions which contribute to this pathway.

Stages of Photosynthesis

The light reactions.

The light reactions happen in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts of plant cells. The thylakoids have densely packed protein and enzyme clusters known as photosystems . There are two of these systems, which work in conjunction with each other to remove electrons and hydrogens from water and transfer them to the cofactors ADP and NADP + . These photosystems were named in the order of which they were discovered, which is opposite of how electrons flow through them. As seen in the image below, electrons excited by light energy flow first through photosystem II (PSII), and then through photosystem I (PSI) as they create NADPH. ATP is created by the protein ATP synthase , which uses the build-up of hydrogen atoms to drive the addition of phosphate groups to ADP.

Thylakoid membrane

The entire system works as follows. A photosystem is comprised of various proteins that surround and connect a series of pigment molecules . Pigments are molecules that absorb various photons, allowing their electrons to become excited. Chlorophyll a is the main pigment used in these systems, and collects the final energy transfer before releasing an electron. Photosystem II starts this process of electrons by using the light energy to split a water molecule, which releases the hydrogen while siphoning off the electrons. The electrons are then passed through plastoquinone, an enzyme complex that releases more hydrogens into the thylakoid space . The electrons then flow through a cytochrome complex and plastocyanin to reach photosystem I. These three complexes form an electron transport chain , much like the one seen in mitochondria. Photosystem I then uses these electrons to drive the reduction of NADP + to NADPH. The additional ATP made during the light reactions comes from ATP synthase, which uses the large gradient of hydrogen molecules to drive the formation of ATP.

The Calvin Cycle

With its electron carriers NADPH and ATP all loaded up with electrons, the plant is now ready to create storable energy. This happens during the Calvin Cycle , which is very similar to the citric acid cycle seen in mitochondria. However, the citric acid cycle creates ATP other electron carriers from 3-carbon molecules, while the Calvin cycle produces these products with the use of NADPH and ATP. The cycle has 3 phases, as seen in the graphic below.

Calvin cycle

During the first phase, a carbon is added to a 5-carbon sugar, creating an unstable 6-carbon sugar. In phase two, this sugar is reduced into two stable 3-carbon sugar molecules. Some of these molecules can be used in other metabolic pathways, and are exported. The rest remain to continue cycling through the Calvin cycle. During the third phase, the five-carbon sugar is regenerated to start the process over again. The Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma of a chloroplast. While not considered part of the Calvin cycle, these products can be used to create a variety of sugars and structural molecules.

Products of Photosynthesis

The direct products of the light reactions and the Calvin cycle are 3-phosphoglycerate and G3P, two different forms of a 3-carbon sugar molecule. Two of these molecules combined equals one glucose molecule, the product seen in the photosynthesis equation. While this is the main food source for plants and animals, these 3-carbon skeletons can be combined into many different forms. A structural form worth note is cellulose , and extremely strong fibrous material made essentially of strings of glucose. Besides sugars and sugar-based molecules, oxygen is the other main product of photosynthesis. Oxygen created from photosynthesis fuels every respiring organism on the planet.

Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C. A., Krieger, M., Scott, M. P., Bretscher, A., . . . Matsudaira, P. (2008). Molecular Cell Biology 6th. ed . New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2008). Principles of Biochemistry . New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

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Photosynthesis

What is photosynthesis.

It is the process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy that is used to make glucose. The word ‘photosynthesis’ is derived from the Greek word phōs, meaning ‘light’ and synthesis meaning ‘combining together.’

Jan Ingenhousz, the Dutch-born British physician and scientist, discovered the process of photosynthesis.

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Where does Photosynthesis Occur

Photosynthesis takes place mainly in the leaves of green plants and also in the stems of herbaceous plants as they also contain chlorophyll. Sometimes it also occurs in roots that contain chlorophyll like in water chestnut and Heart-leaved moonseed. Apart from plants, photosynthesis is also found to occur in blue-green algae.

What Happens During Photosynthesis

It involves a chemical reaction where water, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, and solar energy are utilized as raw materials (inputs) to produce glucose, oxygen, and water (outputs).

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Stages of the Process

Photosynthesis occurs in two stages:

1) The Light-dependent Reaction

  • Takes place in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts only during the day in the presence of sunlight
  • High-energy phosphate molecules adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) and the reducing agent NADPH are produced with the help of electron transport chain

2) The Light-independent or Dark Reaction ( Calvin cycle )

  • Takes place in the stroma of chloroplast in the absence of light that helps to fix carbon
  • ATP and NADPH produced in the light reaction are utilized along with carbon dioxide to produce sugar in the form of glucose

Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis

  • Intensity of Light: The higher intensity of light increases the rate of photosynthesis
  • Temperature:  Warmer the temperature, higher the rate of photosynthesis. The rate is highest between the temperatures of 25° to 35° C, after which it starts to decrease
  • Concentration of Carbon dioxide: Higher concentration of carbon dioxide increases the rate of photosynthesis until it reaches a certain point, beyond which no further effects are found   

Although all the above factors together interact to affect the rate of photosynthesis, each of them individually is also capable of directly influencing the process without the other factors and thus called limiting factors.

Importance of Photosynthesis

It serves two main purposes that are essential to support life on earth:

  • Producing food for organisms that depend on others for their nutrition such as humans along with all other animals
  • Synthesizing oxygen by replacing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Ans. Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction because it absorbs the heat of the sun to carry out the process.

Ans. The oxygen in photosynthesis comes from splitting the water molecules.

Ans. Chlorophyll is the main light-absorbing pigment in photosynthesis.

Ans. The role of water is to provide oxygen in the form of oxygen gas to the atmosphere.

Ans. Sunlight is the source of energy that drives photosynthesis.

Ans. The easiest way to measure the rate of photosynthesis is to quantify the carbon dioxide or oxygen levels using a data logger. The rate of photosynthesis can also be measured by determining the increase in the plant ’s biomass (weight).

Ans. Photosynthesis is an energy-requiring process occurring only in green plants, algae, and certain bacteria that utilizes carbon dioxide and water to produce food in the form of carbohydrates. In contrast, cellular respiration is an energy-releasing process found in all living organisms where oxygen and glucose are utilized to produce carbon dioxide and water.

Ans. Glucose produced in photosynthesis is used in cellular respiration to make ATP.

Article was last reviewed on Tuesday, April 21, 2020

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Photosynthetic Cells

Cells get nutrients from their environment, but where do those nutrients come from? Virtually all organic material on Earth has been produced by cells that convert energy from the Sun into energy-containing macromolecules. This process, called photosynthesis, is essential to the global carbon cycle and organisms that conduct photosynthesis represent the lowest level in most food chains (Figure 1).

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What Is Photosynthesis? Why Is it Important?

Most living things depend on photosynthetic cells to manufacture the complex organic molecules they require as a source of energy. Photosynthetic cells are quite diverse and include cells found in green plants, phytoplankton, and cyanobacteria. During the process of photosynthesis, cells use carbon dioxide and energy from the Sun to make sugar molecules and oxygen. These sugar molecules are the basis for more complex molecules made by the photosynthetic cell, such as glucose. Then, via respiration processes, cells use oxygen and glucose to synthesize energy-rich carrier molecules, such as ATP, and carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product. Therefore, the synthesis of glucose and its breakdown by cells are opposing processes.

However, photosynthesis doesn't just drive the carbon cycle — it also creates the oxygen necessary for respiring organisms. Interestingly, although green plants contribute much of the oxygen in the air we breathe, phytoplankton and cyanobacteria in the world's oceans are thought to produce between one-third and one-half of atmospheric oxygen on Earth.

What Cells and Organelles Are Involved in Photosynthesis?

Chlorophyll A is the major pigment used in photosynthesis, but there are several types of chlorophyll and numerous other pigments that respond to light, including red, brown, and blue pigments. These other pigments may help channel light energy to chlorophyll A or protect the cell from photo-damage. For example, the photosynthetic protists called dinoflagellates, which are responsible for the "red tides" that often prompt warnings against eating shellfish, contain a variety of light-sensitive pigments, including both chlorophyll and the red pigments responsible for their dramatic coloration.

What Are the Steps of Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis consists of both light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions . In plants, the so-called "light" reactions occur within the chloroplast thylakoids, where the aforementioned chlorophyll pigments reside. When light energy reaches the pigment molecules, it energizes the electrons within them, and these electrons are shunted to an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane. Every step in the electron transport chain then brings each electron to a lower energy state and harnesses its energy by producing ATP and NADPH. Meanwhile, each chlorophyll molecule replaces its lost electron with an electron from water; this process essentially splits water molecules to produce oxygen (Figure 5).

Once the light reactions have occurred, the light-independent or "dark" reactions take place in the chloroplast stroma. During this process, also known as carbon fixation, energy from the ATP and NADPH molecules generated by the light reactions drives a chemical pathway that uses the carbon in carbon dioxide (from the atmosphere) to build a three-carbon sugar called glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P). Cells then use G3P to build a wide variety of other sugars (such as glucose) and organic molecules. Many of these interconversions occur outside the chloroplast, following the transport of G3P from the stroma. The products of these reactions are then transported to other parts of the cell, including the mitochondria, where they are broken down to make more energy carrier molecules to satisfy the metabolic demands of the cell. In plants, some sugar molecules are stored as sucrose or starch.

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Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a process by which phototrophs convert light energy into chemical energy, which is later used to fuel cellular activities. The chemical energy is stored in the form of sugars, which are created from water and carbon dioxide.

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Table of Contents

  • What is Photosynthesis?
  • Site of photosynthesis

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What Is Photosynthesis in Biology?

The word “ photosynthesis ” is derived from the Greek words  phōs  (pronounced: “fos”) and σύνθεσις (pronounced: “synthesis “) Phōs means “light” and σύνθεσις   means, “combining together.” This means “ combining together with the help of light .”

Photosynthesis also applies to other organisms besides green plants. These include several prokaryotes such as cyanobacteria, purple bacteria and green sulfur bacteria. These organisms exhibit photosynthesis just like green plants.The glucose produced during photosynthesis is then used to fuel various cellular activities. The by-product of this physio-chemical process is oxygen.

Photosynthesis Reaction

A visual representation of the photosynthesis reaction

  • Photosynthesis is also used by algae to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Oxygen is liberated as a by-product and light is considered as a major factor to complete the process of photosynthesis.
  • Photosynthesis occurs when plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Leaves contain microscopic cellular organelles known as chloroplasts.
  • Each chloroplast contains a green-coloured pigment called chlorophyll. Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll molecules whereas carbon dioxide and oxygen enter through the tiny pores of stomata located in the epidermis of leaves.
  • Another by-product of photosynthesis is sugars such as glucose and fructose.
  • These sugars are then sent to the roots, stems, leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds. In other words, these sugars are used by the plants as an energy source, which helps them to grow. These sugar molecules then combine with each other to form more complex carbohydrates like cellulose and starch. The cellulose is considered as the structural material that is used in plant cell walls.

Where Does This Process Occur?

Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis in plants and blue-green algae.  All green parts of a plant, including the green stems, green leaves,  and sepals – floral parts comprise of chloroplasts – green colour plastids. These cell organelles are present only in plant cells and are located within the mesophyll cells of leaves.

Photosynthesis process requires several factors such as:

Increased light intensity results in a higher rate of photosynthesis. On the other hand, low light intensity results in a lower rate of photosynthesis. Higher concentration of carbon dioxide helps in increasing the rate of photosynthesis. Usually, carbon dioxide in the range of 300 – 400 PPM is adequate for photosynthesis. For efficient execution of photosynthesis, it is important to have a temperature range between 25° to 35° C. As water is an important factor in photosynthesis, its deficiency can lead to problems in the intake of carbon dioxide. The scarcity of water leads to the refusal of stomatal opening to retain the amount of water they have stored inside. : Industrial pollutants and other particulates may settle on the leaf surface. This can block the pores of stomata which makes it difficult to take in carbon dioxide.

Also Read:  Photosynthesis Early Experiments

Photosynthesis Equation

Photosynthesis reaction involves two reactants, carbon dioxide and water. These two reactants yield two products, namely, oxygen and glucose. Hence, the photosynthesis reaction is considered to be an endothermic reaction. Following is the photosynthesis formula:

   +   6H O  —>  C H O  + 6O

Unlike plants, certain bacteria that perform photosynthesis do not produce oxygen as the by-product of photosynthesis. Such bacteria are called anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. The bacteria that do produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis are called oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria.

There are four different  types of pigments present in leaves:

Structure Of Chlorophyll

Structure of chlorophyll

The structure of Chlorophyll consists of 4 nitrogen atoms that surround a magnesium atom. A hydrocarbon tail is also present. Pictured above is chlorophyll- f,  which is more effective in near-infrared light than chlorophyll- a

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of the  plant cell   and in the mesosomes of cyanobacteria. This green colour pigment plays a vital role in the process of photosynthesis by permitting plants to absorb energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll is a mixture of chlorophyll- a  and chlorophyll- b .Besides green plants, other organisms that perform photosynthesis contain various other forms of chlorophyll such as chlorophyll- c1 ,  chlorophyll- c2 ,  chlorophyll- d and chlorophyll- f .

Also Read:   Biological Pigments

Process Of Photosynthesis

At the cellular level,  the photosynthesis process takes place in cell organelles called chloroplasts. These organelles contain a green-coloured pigment called chlorophyll, which is responsible for the characteristic green colouration of the leaves.

As already stated, photosynthesis occurs in the leaves and the specialized cell organelles responsible for this process is called the chloroplast. Structurally, a leaf comprises a petiole, epidermis and a lamina. The lamina is used for absorption of sunlight and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.

Structure of Chloroplast

Structure of Chloroplast. Note the presence of the thylakoid

“Photosynthesis Steps:”

  • During the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide enters through the stomata, water is absorbed by the root hairs from the soil and is carried to the leaves through the xylem vessels. Chlorophyll absorbs the light energy from the sun to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
  • The hydrogen from water molecules and carbon dioxide absorbed from the air are used in the production of glucose. Furthermore, oxygen is liberated out into the atmosphere through the leaves as a waste product.
  • Glucose is a source of food for plants that provide energy for  growth and development , while the rest is stored in the roots, leaves and fruits, for their later use.
  • Pigments are other fundamental cellular components of photosynthesis. They are the molecules that impart colour and they absorb light at some specific wavelength and reflect back the unabsorbed light. All green plants mainly contain chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids which are present in the thylakoids of chloroplasts. It is primarily used to capture light energy. Chlorophyll-a is the main pigment.

The process of photosynthesis occurs in two stages:

  • Light-dependent reaction or light reaction
  • Light independent reaction or dark reaction

Stages of Photosynthesis

Stages of Photosynthesis in Plants depicting the two phases – Light reaction and Dark reaction

Light Reaction of Photosynthesis (or) Light-dependent Reaction

  • Photosynthesis begins with the light reaction which is carried out only during the day in the presence of sunlight. In plants, the light-dependent reaction takes place in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
  • The Grana, membrane-bound sacs like structures present inside the thylakoid functions by gathering light and is called photosystems.
  • These photosystems have large complexes of pigment and proteins molecules present within the plant cells, which play the primary role during the process of light reactions of photosynthesis.
  • There are two types of photosystems: photosystem I and photosystem II.
  • Under the light-dependent reactions, the light energy is converted to ATP and NADPH, which are used in the second phase of photosynthesis.
  • During the light reactions, ATP and NADPH are generated by two electron-transport chains, water is used and oxygen is produced.

The chemical equation in the light reaction of photosynthesis can be reduced to:

2H 2 O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi → O 2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP

Dark Reaction of Photosynthesis (or) Light-independent Reaction

  • Dark reaction is also called carbon-fixing reaction.
  • It is a light-independent process in which sugar molecules are formed from the water and carbon dioxide molecules.
  • The dark reaction occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast where they utilize the NADPH and ATP products of the light reaction.
  • Plants capture the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through stomata and proceed to the Calvin photosynthesis cycle.
  • In the Calvin cycle , the ATP and NADPH formed during light reaction drive the reaction and convert 6 molecules of carbon dioxide into one sugar molecule or glucose.

The chemical equation for the dark reaction can be reduced to:

3CO 2 + 6 NADPH + 5H 2 O + 9ATP → G3P + 2H+ + 6 NADP+ + 9 ADP + 8 Pi

* G3P – glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

Calvin cycle

Calvin photosynthesis Cycle (Dark Reaction)

Also Read:  Cyclic And Non-Cyclic Photophosphorylation

Importance of Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis is essential for the existence of all life on earth. It serves a crucial role in the food chain – the plants create their food using this process, thereby, forming the primary producers.
  • Photosynthesis is also responsible for the production of oxygen – which is needed by most organisms for their survival.

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1. what is photosynthesis explain the process of photosynthesis., 2. what is the significance of photosynthesis, 3. list out the factors influencing photosynthesis., 4. what are the different stages of photosynthesis, 5. what is the calvin cycle, 6. write down the photosynthesis equation..

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Please What Is Meant By 300-400 PPM

PPM stands for Parts-Per-Million. It corresponds to saying that 300 PPM of carbon dioxide indicates that if one million gas molecules are counted, 300 out of them would be carbon dioxide. The remaining nine hundred ninety-nine thousand seven hundred are other gas molecules.

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What is photosynthesis?

April 28, 2020 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Green plants make sugar for growth by a process called photosynthesis . Photosynthesis is a process where light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of sugars. It’s a process that provides the main source of oxygen in the atmosphere and is essential for almost all life on Earth.

Photosynthesis made simple

Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of glucose.

The glucose molecules created by photosynthesis act as fuel for cells and are used for cellular respiration and fermentation.

Photosynthesis Equation

Carbon dioxide + water  (and light ) ———> glucose and oxygen

Photosynthesis Diagram showing products in and out

Where does photosynthesis happen?

Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplast cells, which contain a substance called chlorophyll. It is chlorophyll, which gives plants their green colour.

Chloroplasts are one of the organelles in a plant cell. We made a jelly model of plant cell to learn about organelles and plant cell structure.

edible plant cell model made with jelly and sweets

Sunlight is also needed to make chlorophyll. If plants are kept in the dark, they can’t make chlorophyll and will have yellow leaves! You can see this in our multicoloured cress caterpillar .

What affects the rate of photosynthesis

Four factors affect the rate of photosynthesis . The faster it occurs, the more the plant grows.

Light  – the more light there is, the faster photosynthesis occurs.

Water  – lack of water slows photosynthesis down.

Temperature  – photosynthesis works best at around 30 degrees Celsius.

Carbon dioxide levels  – photosynthesis is faster if there is more carbon dioxide in the air.

Plants make the energy to grow through a process called respiration . This uses the sugar produced by photosynthesis and oxygen.

How are leaves adapted for photosynthesis?

Leaves are green as they contain lots of chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight.

They are thin and have a large surface area. This means they can absorb a lot of sunlight, and gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass in and out of the leaf easily.

Leaves have veins – xylem and phloem, which transport water, minerals and sugars around the plant.

Do only plants photosynthesise?

Plants, algae, and some types of bacteria use photosynthesis to create energy.

A large percentage of the Earth’s oxygen comes from phytoplankton in the oceans, which contain chlorophyll and use photosynthesis to create energy.

What is chlorophyll?

Chlorophyll is a green pigment which absorbs energy from blue and red light waves and reflects green light waves, which is why plants look green!

Chlorophyll in a plant is found in an organelle called a chloroplast. This is where photosynthesis occurs.

Plant cell diagram with labelled organelles

Why is photosynthesis important?

Photosynthesis also allows plants to make energy for growth and repair, and it has an important ecological impact.

Plants incorporate the carbon from carbon dioxide into organic molecules ( carbon fixation ). This creates a carbon source for animals who cannot create their own and also removes carbon dioxide from the air, slowing down the rate at which it builds up in the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis also creates oxygen, which is needed for most life on Earth!

Do you have more questions? You might find the answers in my collection of science questions for kids .

What is photosynthesis? find out how plants make energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water #plantscienceforkids

Last Updated on January 26, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

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) and water into sugar. Oxygen is a waste product.

It doesn’t necessarily mean more though. When we think of photosynthesis as a process, we can see that there are at least three things that can limit the process: More light won’t help if we don’t have enough water and carbon dioxide.

Actually, most places on Earth have the same amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a plant can only get it by opening holes in its leaves. These holes are too small for you to see without a strong microscope, but they are big enough to let water vapor out of the plant. So water is an important limit on a plant. More light is actually a problem if water is scarce, because even more water will evaporate from the plant.

This is an example of how increasing one factor (sunlight) can lead to another factor (water) being limiting.

How can you look at a landscape and tell whether a lot of photosynthesis usually happens there?

Thanks for asking,


So by level of light you probably mean light intensity which is something that can be measured. So in the case of a plant, a higher light intensity means more packets of light called “photons” are hitting the leaves. As you rise from low light intensity to higher light intensity, the rate of photosynthesis will increase because there is more light available to drive the reactions of photosynthesis. However, once the light intensity gets high enough, the rate won’t increase anymore because there will other factors that are limiting the rate of photosynthesis. A limiting factor could be the amount of chlorophyll molecules that are absorbing the light. At a very high intensity of light, the rate of photosynthesis would drop quickly as the light starts to damage the plant.



This is a very important aspect of photosynthesis. As you are probably aware, These sugars are then used by the plant as energy for any number of things. The process of photosynthesis requires three things: Light, Carbon dioxide and water. If any one of these things is in short supply, then photosynthesis cannot happen. When you increase the level of light, plants will photosynthesize more. But, if you have too much light, than the other 2 ingredients become limiting and photosynthesis can no longer increase with the level of light. When this occurs, leaves can experience sunburn damage. If you've ever seen a leaf with large dry brown sections on a living leaf, it is because that leaf experienced sunburn.

With too little light, photosynthesis cannot occur either and the plant suffers without the production of sugars. There are many complicating interactions between plants and light. I hope that you continue to investigate this as the story gets more interesting and exciting the deeper you go.

Cheers,


Photosynthesis needs light, but it also needs other things, and too much light can create heat and dryness that are bad for photosynthesis. For this reason plants in different environments have different structures to help them get the right amount of light.


I am not sure what you mean by "level" of light, but I will answer your question in to ways - in terms of the intensity of light and wavelength of light.

Photosynthesis needs water, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, light, and the right temperature. Light is an extremely important factor for the process. If there is enough water, carbon dioxide, and the temperature is right, light becomes the factor which will affect photosynthesis. Most of the time, But, this rate has a limit, and once that limit is hit you can't increase the rate past that limit.

Chlorophyll is a green pigment in the chloroplast of the plant cell which absorbs the light. This mean it will absorb any wavelength of light which is not in the green spectrum of light. If you look at a spectrum from 400nm-700nm. The amount of light absorbed will increase until it reaches a peak at about 450nm ​(blue light). Then it will start decreasing and be very low (almost 0) through the 500-550nm (green light) and then it will increase again peaking at about 700nm (red and yellow light).


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what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis ( OCR A Level Biology )

Revision note.

Lára

Biology Lead

What are the Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis?

  • The presence of photosynthetic pigments
  • A supply of carbon dioxide
  • A supply of water
  • Light energy
  • A suitable temperature
  • If there is a shortage of any of these factors, photosynthesis cannot occur at its maximum possible rate

Light intensity

Carbon dioxide concentration, temperature.

  • These are known as limiting factors of photosynthesis
  • If any one of these factors is below the optimum level for the plant, its rate of photosynthesis will be reduced , even if the other two factors are at the optimum level
  • Although a lack of water can reduce the rate of photosynthesis, water shortages usually affect other processes in the plant before affecting photosynthesis and is therefore not one of the main limiting factors
  • When temperature and carbon dioxide concentration remain constant, changes in light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis
  • The greater the light intensity, the more energy supplied to the plant and therefore the faster the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis can occur
  • This produces more ATP and reduced NADP for the Calvin cycle (light-independent stage), which can then also occur at a greater rate
  • During this stage of the graph below, light intensity is said to be a limiting factor of photosynthesis
  • At some point, if light intensity continues to increase, the relationship above will no longer apply and the rate of photosynthesis will reach a plateau
  • At this point, light intensity is no longer a limiting factor of photosynthesis – another factor is limiting the rate of photosynthesis
  • The factors which could be limiting the rate when the line on the graph is horizontal include temperature being too low or too high, or not enough carbon dioxide

The effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis

  • Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials required for photosynthesis
  • It is required for the light-independent stage of photosynthesis, when CO 2 is combined with the five-carbon compound ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) during carbon fixation
  • This means the more carbon dioxide that is present, the faster this step of the Calvin cycle can occur and the faster the overall rate of photosynthesis
  • This trend will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is in short supply
  • The natural level of CO 2 in the atmosphere is 0.04% , it is therefore not advisable to increase the CO 2 concentration much higher than this as it can become toxic
  • The factors which could be limiting the rate when the line on the graph is horizontal include temperature being too low or too high, or not enough light

The effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis

  • As temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis increases, as the reaction is controlled by enzymes
  • However, as the reaction is controlled by enzymes this trend only continues up to a certain temperature, beyond which the enzymes begin to denature and the rate of reaction decreases
  • For most metabolic reactions, temperature has a large effect on reaction rate
  • For photosynthesis, temperature does not have a significant effect on the light-dependent reactions , as these are driven by energy from light rather than the kinetic energy of the reacting molecules
  • However, the Calvin cycle is affected by temperature, as the light-independent reactions are enzyme-controlled reactions (e.g. rubisco catalyses the reaction between CO 2 and the five-carbon compound ribulose bisphosphate)
  • As long as there is enough light energy to produce ATP and NADPH in the light-dependent reaction, increasing temperature up to an optimum temperature (this will vary by species and what its natural habitat is) will increase the rate of the light-independent reactions and therefore the rate of photosynthesis
  • Increasing temperature causes stomata on the leaves to close in order to reduce water loss;  when the stomata are closed CO 2 cannot enter the leaves and photosynthesis will slow down
  • The light-dependent reaction relies on a proton gradient forming across the thylakoid membrane; membrane permeability can be influenced by extreme temperatures, which may lead to a dissipation of the proton gradient and a slowing down of photosynthesis

The effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis

The effect of the light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration on levels of GP, TP and RuBP

  • The concentrations of glycerate 3-phosphate (GP), triose phosphate (TP) and ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) within chloroplasts can be affected by changes to light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration
  • When there is less light available the light-dependent stage stops and does not form any more products needed for the light-independent stage (ATP and NADPH)
  • As a consequence, GP builds up as it is not converted to TP
  • A lack of TP means that RuBP will not form
  • Over time the fixation of carbon dioxide will stop and the concentration of GP will plateau
  • RuBP accepts carbon dioxide so when there is a lack of carbon dioxide molecules it remains unfixed and builds up
  • The lack of carbon dioxide fixation prevents GP and TP molecules from forming

Light and carbon dioxide effect on GP,TP,RuBP 1, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

A decrease in light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration has different effects on the concentrations of GP, TP and RuBP.

Agricultural practices balance limiting factors

  • An understanding of the effect of limiting factors on the rate of photosynthesis can be used to increase crop yields in protected environments , such as glasshouses
  • This means that plants could continue to grow through the night if they are kept lit with artificial lighting
  • Plants can be grown out of their natural season and habitat because the temperature can be kept constant all year round
  • All these factors can be managed by a computer and their levels adjusted to ensure the crop can photosynthesis at the highest rate possible
  • Water can be supplied by irrigation systems throughout the glasshouse or fields which sometimes contain added fertilisers or growth nutrients such as nitrates to aid plant growth
  • Natural pests that may spread disease or eat the crops can be controlled within agricultural settings by pesticides or by separating the plants from the unfiltered outside air
  • This maximises the yield of the crop
  • Farmers have to find a balance between crop yield and the cost of maintaining 24-hour lighting and year-round heating as well as the environmental implications this has

Interpreting graphs of limiting factors can be confusing for many students, but it’s quite simple.In the section of the graph where the rate is increasing (the line is going up), the limiting factor is whatever the label on the x-axis (the bottom axis) of the graph is.In the section of the graph where the rate is not increasing (the line is horizontal), the limiting factor will be something other than what is on the x-axis – choose from temperature, light intensity or carbon dioxide concentration.

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Author: Lára

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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Biology archive

Course: biology archive   >   unit 13.

  • Conceptual overview of light dependent reactions
  • Light dependent reactions actors
  • Photosynthesis: Overview of the light-dependent reactions

Light and photosynthetic pigments

  • The light-dependent reactions

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Introduction

What is light energy, pigments absorb light used in photosynthesis, chlorophylls, carotenoids, what does it mean for a pigment to absorb light, attribution:.

  • “ The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis ,” by OpenStax College ( CC BY 3.0 ). Download the original article for free at http://cnx.org/contents/f829b3bd-472d-4885-a0a4-6fea3252e2b2@11 .
  • " Bis2A 06.3 Photophosphorylation: the light reactions of photosynthesis ," by Mitch Singer ( CC BY 4.0 ). Download the original article for free at http://cnx.org/contents/c8fa5bf4-1af7-4591-8d76-711d0c1f05f9@2 .

Works cited:

  • Chlorophyll a. (2015, October 11). Retrieved October 22, 2015 from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll_a .
  • Speer, B.R., (1997, July 9) Photosynthetic pigments. In UCMP glossary . Retrieved from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss3/pigments.html .
  • Bullerjahn, G. S. and A. F. Post. (1993). The prochlorophytes: are they more than just chlorophyll a/b-containing cyanobacteria? Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 19(1), 43. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10408419309113522 .
  • Reece, J. B., Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V., and Jackson, R. B. (2011). Photosynthesis. In Campbell biology (10th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson, 193.

Additional references:

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Great Answer

Net photosynthesis

The rate of photosynthesis is a gross measure of the rate at which a plant captures radiant energy and fixes it in organic carbon compounds. However, it is often more important to consider, and very much easier to measure, the net gain. Net photosynthesis is the increase (or decrease) in dry matter that results from the difference between gross photosynthesis and the losses due to respiration and the death of plant parts (Figure 3.8).

Net photosynthesis is negative in darkness, when respiration exceeds photosynthesis, and increases with the intensity of PAR. The compensation point is the intensity of PAR at which the gain from gross photosynthesis exactly balances the respiratory and other losses. The leaves of shade species tend to respire at lower rates than those of sun species. Thus, when both are growing in the shade the net photosynthesis of shade species is greater than that of sun species.

There is nearly a 100-fold variation in the photosynthetic capacity of leaves (Mooney & Gulmon, 1979). This is the rate of photosynthesis when incident radiation is saturating, temperature is optimal, relative humidity is high, and CO2 and oxygen concentrations are normal. When the leaves of different species are compared under these ideal conditions, the ones with the highest photosynthetic capacity are generally those from environments where nutrients, water and radiation are seldom limiting (at least during the growing season). These include many agricultural crops and their weeds. Species from resource-poor environments (e.g. shade plants, desert perennials, heathland species) usually have low photosynthetic capacity - even when abundant resources are provided. Such patterns can be understood by noting that photosynthetic capacity, like all capacity, must be 'built'; and the investment in building sun and shade leaves the compensation point photosynthetic capacity

(a) Chlorophyll a and b

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Chlorophyll b

Chlorophyll a

Species Richness

Wavelength (nm)

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 Wavelength (nm)

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

R-phycocyanin a

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Green algae

Figure 3.7 (a) Absorption spectra of chlorophylls a and b. (b) Absorption spectrum of chlorophyll c2. (c) Absorption spectrum of ß-carotene. (d) Absorption spectrum of the biliprotein, R-phycocyanin. (e) Absorption spectrum of a piece of leaf of the freshwater macrophyte, Vallisneria spiralis, from Lake Ginnindera, Australia. (f) Absorption spectrum of the planktonic alga Chlorella pyrenoidos (green).

Ecological Spectrum

Figure 3.7 (continued) (g-h) Absorption spectra of the planktonic algae Navícula minima (diatom) and Synechocystis sp. (blue-green). (i) The numbers of species of benthic red, green and brown algae at various depths (and in various light regimes) off the west coast of Scotland (56-57°N). (After Kirk, 1994; data from various sources.)

Net Photosynthesis

Figure 3.8 The annual course of events that determined the net photosynthetic rate of the foliage of maple (Acer campestre) in 1980. (a) Variations in the intensity of PAR (•), and changes in the photosynthetic capacity of the foliage (□) appearing in spring, rising to a plateau and then declining through late September and October. (b) The daily fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) (o) and its loss through respiration during the night (•). The annual total gross photosynthesis was 1342 g CO2 m-2 and night respiration was 150 g CO2 m-2, giving a balance of 1192 g CO2 m-2 net photosynthesis. (After Pearcy et al., 1987.)

capacity is only likely to be repaid if ample opportunity exists for that capacity to be utilized.

Needless to say, ideal conditions in which plants may achieve their photosynthetic capacity are rarely present outside a physiologist's controlled environment chamber. In practice, the rate at which photosynthesis actually proceeds is limited by conditions (e.g. temperature) and by the availability of resources other than radiant energy. Leaves seem also to achieve their maximal photosynthetic rate only when the products are being actively withdrawn (to developing buds, tubers, etc.). In addition, the photosynthetic capacity of leaves is highly correlated with leaf nitrogen content, both between leaves on a single plant and between the leaves of different species (Woodward, 1994). Around 75% of leaf nitrogen is invested in chloroplasts. This suggests that the availability of nitrogen as a resource may place strict limits on the ability of plants to garner CO2 and energy in photosynthesis. The rate of photosynthesis also increases with the intensity of PAR, but in most species ('C3 plants' - see below) reaches a plateau at intensities of radiation well below that of full solar radiation.

The highest efficiency of utilization of radiation by green plants is 3-4.5%, obtained from cultured microalgae at low intensities of PAR. In tropical forests values fall within the range 1-3%, and in temperate forests 0.6-1.2%. The approximate efficiency of temperate crops is only about 0.6%. It is on such levels of efficiency that the energetics of all communities depend.

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

Figure 3.9 Computer reconstructions of stems of typical sun (a, c) and shade (b, d) plants of the evergreen shrub Heteromeles arbutifolia, viewed along the path of the sun's rays in the early morning (a, b) and at midday (c, d). Darker tones represent parts of leaves shaded by other leaves of the same plant. Bars = 4 cm. (After Valladares & Pearcy, 1998.)

Continue reading here: Sun and shade plants of an evergreen shrub

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Recommended Books

  • Mooney & Gulmon (1979): Photosynthesis: The Rate of Photosynthesis
  • Smith & Smith (2005): Net Photosynthesis: Species Richness
  • Anderson & Anderson (2008): Photosynthesis: The Basics
  • Johnson & Johnson (2010): Photosynthesis: A Comprehensive Guide

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  • Net recruitment curves - Species Richness

Readers' Questions

Why would more eldodea produce a higher gross and net production?
There are several reasons why more elodea plants would result in higher gross and net production: Increased photosynthesis: Elodea plants are known for their efficient photosynthesis, where they use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. With more plants, there will be an increased surface area for light absorption and a higher rate of photosynthesis. This leads to more glucose production, resulting in higher gross production. Increased nutrient uptake: Elodea plants require nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus for growth. With a larger number of plants, there will be a higher demand for nutrients in the environment. As a result, more nutrients will be taken up from the water, leading to increased growth and higher gross production. Reduced competition for resources: In a dense population of elodea plants, each individual has limited access to light, nutrients, and water due to competition. However, when more plants are present, the competition for these resources reduces as they are distributed among more individuals. This allows each plant to have better access to essential resources, promoting growth and increasing gross production. Enhanced symbiotic relationships: Elodea plants can form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms in their root zone. These beneficial microorganisms can help in nutrient acquisition and improve plant health. With a larger number of plants, there will be more opportunities for these symbiotic relationships to form, resulting in improved nutrient availability, better growth, and higher gross production. Overall, the presence of more elodea plants leads to increased photosynthesis, improved nutrient uptake, reduced competition, and enhanced symbiotic relationships, leading to higher gross and net production.
How does light intensity affect oxygen production?
Light intensity affects oxygen production in plants through the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. When light intensity is high, more photons of light reach the chloroplasts in the plant's cells. This increases the amount of energy available for the photosynthetic reactions to occur, leading to a higher rate of photosynthesis. As a result, more glucose is produced and released into the plant, while more oxygen is released into the surrounding environment as a byproduct. On the other hand, when light intensity is low, fewer photons reach the chloroplasts, leading to a lower rate of photosynthesis. This results in reduced oxygen production. Without sufficient light intensity, the plant cannot generate enough energy for the photosynthetic reactions to proceed at an optimal rate. In summary, higher light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis, resulting in increased oxygen production, while lower light intensity decreases photosynthesis and therefore oxygen production.
What factors speed up or slow down the rate of photosynthesis?
Several factors can affect the rate of photosynthesis: Light intensity: An increase in light intensity usually leads to an increase in the rate of photosynthesis. However, once a certain light intensity is reached, the rate plateaus as other factors become limiting. Low light intensity slows down photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration: As the concentration of CO2 increases, the rate of photosynthesis usually increases proportionally. Inadequate levels of CO2 can slow down photosynthesis. Temperature: Photosynthesis is temperature-sensitive. Within a certain range, as temperature increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. However, excessively high temperatures can damage the enzymes involved in photosynthesis, slowing down or stopping the process. Availability of water: Water is crucial in photosynthesis, as it is required by plants to transport nutrients and maintain cell turgidity. Insufficient water availability can lead to stomatal closure, restricting the entry of CO2 and slowing down photosynthesis. Chlorophyll concentration: Chlorophyll is a pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis. Plants with higher chlorophyll concentration generally have a higher rate of photosynthesis. Nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of nitrogen or magnesium, can decrease chlorophyll production and, consequently, reduce the rate of photosynthesis. Nutrient availability: Adequate levels of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are necessary for photosynthesis. A deficiency in any of these essential nutrients can slow down the process. Leaf surface area: A larger leaf surface area provides more surface area for light absorption, resulting in a higher rate of photosynthesis. It is important to note that these factors do not act in isolation, but rather interact with each other to collectively determine the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
Which of the following would be a typical product of the dark reactions of photosynthesis?
The typical product of the dark reactions of photosynthesis is glucose (C6H12O6).
What variables can increase or decrease the rate of photosynthesis?
There are several variables that can increase or decrease the rate of photosynthesis, including: Light intensity: Higher light intensity generally increases the rate of photosynthesis as it provides more energy for the process. However, beyond a certain point, excessive light intensity can cause damage to the plant and decrease the rate. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration: Increased levels of CO2 can stimulate photosynthesis and enhance the rate. On the other hand, limited CO2 availability can be a factor that reduces photosynthesis. Temperature: Photosynthesis generally increases as temperature rises within a favorable range. However, extremely high temperatures can lead to denaturation of enzymes involved in the process, ultimately decreasing the rate. Water availability: Sufficient water is necessary for photosynthesis to occur. Inadequate water availability can lead to stomatal closure, reducing CO2 uptake and therefore decreasing photosynthesis. Nutrient availability: Photosynthesis can be influenced by the availability of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Insufficient levels of these nutrients can limit the rate of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll concentration: Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for capturing light energy during photosynthesis. Higher chlorophyll concentration can increase the rate of photosynthesis, while deficiencies in chlorophyll can reduce it. pH levels: Photosynthesis is sensitive to pH levels, with an optimal range typically between pH 6 and pH Extreme acidity or alkalinity can negatively affect enzyme activity and therefore decrease the rate of photosynthesis. It is important to note that the impact of each variable may vary depending on the plant species and environmental conditions, and interactions between these variables can also influence photosynthesis rates.
What conditions and/or raw materials are necessary for photosynthesis to occur?
Photosynthesis is a process that occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria. The following conditions and raw materials are necessary for photosynthesis to occur: Sunlight: Photosynthesis needs light energy from the sun to fuel the process. Sunlight provides the necessary energy for the conversion of water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. Chlorophyll: Plants and algae contain a green pigment called chlorophyll in their chloroplasts. Chlorophyll captures light energy and starts the process of photosynthesis. Carbon Dioxide: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken in from the atmosphere through small openings in plant leaves called stomata. CO2 is a raw material required for the production of glucose in photosynthesis. Water: Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and transport it to the leaves. Water is a vital raw material needed for photosynthesis, as it provides the hydrogen atoms necessary for glucose synthesis. Temperature: Photosynthesis occurs optimally within a range of temperatures. Depending on the plant species, the optimal temperature for photosynthesis usually falls between 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Extreme temperatures can negatively affect the process. Minerals and Nutrients: Various minerals and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium are essential for the production of chlorophyll and other components involved in photosynthesis. These minerals and nutrients are typically obtained from the soil. Enzymes: Enzymes are necessary catalysts for the chemical reactions that occur during photosynthesis. They facilitate the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Overall, all these conditions and raw materials are necessary for the process of photosynthesis to take place, enabling plants to convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.
Which of these wavelengths of energy is used by plants to perform photosynthesis?
Plants primarily use visible light wavelengths to perform photosynthesis. The range of visible light wavelengths is approximately 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). Within this range, plants predominantly absorb red (around 650 nm) and blue (around 450 nm) light, while reflecting and transmitting green light, which is why plants appear green to the human eye.
What is the relationship between light intensity and atp production?
The relationship between light intensity and ATP production is that light intensity directly affects the rate of ATP production in photosynthetic organisms. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a molecule that stores and provides energy for cellular processes. In the process of photosynthesis, light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Light intensity refers to the amount of light that reaches a certain area. When the light intensity increases, more photons of light are absorbed by the photosynthetic pigments in the chloroplasts of plants and algae. This higher light absorption leads to an increased rate of photosynthesis, which in turn results in higher ATP production. During photosynthesis, light energy is captured by the pigment molecules in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. This energy is then used to power a series of chemical reactions that convert ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate into ATP. The ATP produced is used as an energy source in various cellular processes, including growth, metabolism, and transport of molecules. Therefore, as light intensity increases, more light energy is available for absorption, leading to a higher rate of ATP production. Conversely, when light intensity decreases, less ATP is produced due to limited energy availability, thus affecting the overall metabolic activities of the organism.
How can the rate of photosynthesis be measured using products or reactants?
The rate of photosynthesis can be measured using products or reactants in several ways: Oxygen production: One of the main products of photosynthesis is oxygen. The rate of photosynthesis can be measured by measuring the amount of oxygen that is released during the process. This can be done by collecting the oxygen gas and measuring its volume over a given time period. Carbon dioxide uptake: Photosynthesis involves the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The rate of photosynthesis can be measured by monitoring the decrease in the concentration of CO2 in a closed system over a specific time. This can be done using a carbon dioxide sensor or by measuring the change in pH of the water in which the plant is growing. Glucose production: Glucose is another product of photosynthesis. Its production can be determined by measuring the change in sugar concentration in the plant tissues over time. This can be done using various colorimetric or enzymatic assays to measure the glucose content. Chlorophyll fluorescence: Chlorophyll fluorescence can be used to indirectly measure the rate of photosynthesis. When plants are exposed to light, chlorophyll molecules in the chloroplasts emit fluorescence. The intensity of this fluorescence can be measured, and it correlates with the rate of photosynthesis. Techniques such as Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) fluorometry can be used to measure chlorophyll fluorescence. Biomass accumulation: The rate of photosynthesis can also be estimated by measuring the increase in biomass or plant growth. This can be done by weighing the plant at different time intervals or by measuring the increase in dry weight of the plant. It is important to note that these methods provide indirect measurements of photosynthesis and should be used in conjunction with other techniques to obtain more accurate and comprehensive results.
Which of the following conditions would decrease the rate of photosynthesis in a plant?
1) Lack of sunlight: Photosynthesis requires sunlight as the energy source. If there is a lack of sunlight, such as during cloudy days or if the plant is situated in a shaded area, the rate of photosynthesis would decrease. 2) Insufficient water: Water is a vital component for photosynthesis as it is needed for the plant to produce glucose via the process. If the plant does not receive enough water, it may close its stomata to prevent water loss through transpiration, ultimately reducing the rate of photosynthesis. 3) Low carbon dioxide levels: Carbon dioxide is another essential ingredient for photosynthesis. If there is a deficiency of carbon dioxide in the plant's surroundings, it can limit the plant's ability to produce glucose through photosynthesis. 4) Extreme temperatures: Photosynthesis is most efficient within a certain temperature range. If the plant is exposed to extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold, the enzymes involved in the photosynthetic process may become denatured, leading to a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis. 5) Nutrient deficiencies: Plants require various nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, for optimal growth and function, including photosynthesis. A deficiency in any of these essential nutrients can impair the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis effectively.
What happens to the rate of photosynthesis if the amount of carbon dioxide available is reduced?
If the amount of carbon dioxide available is reduced, the rate of photosynthesis will be negatively affected. Carbon dioxide is an essential component for the process of photosynthesis, as it is used by plants to produce glucose and oxygen. When there is an insufficient amount of carbon dioxide, plants are unable to carry out photosynthesis at an optimal rate. This leads to a decrease in the production of glucose and oxygen, thus reducing the overall rate of photosynthesis. Plants may slow down their growth rate, have smaller leaves, or show signs of stunted development due to the limited carbon dioxide availability. It is worth noting that while reducing carbon dioxide levels decreases photosynthesis, excessive levels of carbon dioxide can also negatively impact photosynthesis. Plants have an optimal range of carbon dioxide concentration, and beyond certain levels, it can inhibit the process.
What factors affected the number of energy storage molecules that the elodea plant can make?
Several factors can affect the number of energy storage molecules that the Elodea plant can make: Light intensity: The Elodea plant requires light for photosynthesis, which is the process of converting light energy into chemical energy stored in molecules such as glucose. Higher light intensity generally leads to increased photosynthetic activity and the production of more energy storage molecules. Carbon dioxide availability: Carbon dioxide is a crucial raw material for photosynthesis. Adequate levels of carbon dioxide can fuel the process and promote the production of energy storage molecules. Insufficient carbon dioxide availability can limit the plant's ability to synthesize these molecules. Temperature: Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis in plants. Within the optimum range, a higher temperature usually increases the rate of photosynthesis and subsequently the production of energy storage molecules. However, excessively high temperatures can damage the plant's enzymes and decrease photosynthetic efficiency. Nutrient availability: Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are essential for plant growth and photosynthesis. Insufficient levels of these nutrients can limit the plant's ability to produce energy storage molecules, even if light and carbon dioxide are available in abundance. Water availability: Water is necessary for the absorption of nutrients and for maintaining the plant's turgidity, which is crucial for photosynthesis. Inadequate water supply can lead to reduced photosynthetic activity and hinder the production of energy storage molecules. Genetic factors: Different Elodea plant species or varieties may have varying genetic traits that affect their ability to produce and store energy molecules. Some varieties may have higher efficiency in photosynthesis and energy storage than others. It is important to note that these factors are interrelated, and changes in one factor can influence the response of the plant to others. Additionally, the overall health and condition of the Elodea plant, as well as its growth stage, can also impact the production of energy storage molecules.
How does radiant energy become food for a plant?
Radiant energy from the sun is converted into food for plants through the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs in the green pigment called chlorophyll, which is present in the chloroplasts of plant cells. The radiant energy in the form of sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll molecules. Once absorbed, the energy is used to power a series of chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). This process takes place in two main stages: Light-dependent reactions: During this stage, chlorophyll molecules capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). These energy-rich molecules are produced in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts. Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle): In this stage, the energy-rich ATP and NADPH molecules produced in the light-dependent reactions are used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose. This process occurs in the stroma of the chloroplasts and involves various enzymatic reactions. Overall, the input of radiant energy from the sun allows plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, which becomes their food source. This glucose can be used immediately for energy or stored as starch for future use.
What is the relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis?
The relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis is generally a positive correlation. This means that as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis also increases, up to a certain point. Light is one of the essential factors required for the process of photosynthesis to occur. In the presence of light, plants and other photosynthetic organisms are able to absorb it through pigments called chlorophyll. This light energy is then converted into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which serves as the primary energy source for the organism. However, there is a maximum light intensity beyond which photosynthesis does not increase further. This is because other factors, such as the concentration of carbon dioxide or temperature, may become limiting factors for photosynthesis. These limiting factors can prevent the rate of photosynthesis from increasing despite a higher light intensity. In summary, light intensity has a positive relationship with the rate of photosynthesis, but only up to a certain point. Beyond that point, other factors may limit the rate of photosynthesis.
How to measure photosynthesis at home?
There are a few ways you can measure photosynthesis at home. Here are three methods you can try: Oxygen Production: One way to measure photosynthesis is to measure the amount of oxygen produced by a plant. You can do this by using a water plant such as Elodea or pondweed. Fill a container with water and add a few sprigs of the water plant. Place the container in direct sunlight and let it sit for a few hours. Collect any bubbles that are produced and measure the volume of oxygen released. This will give you an indication of the rate of photosynthesis. Carbon Dioxide Absorption: Another way to measure photosynthesis is by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by a plant. You can do this by placing a potted plant inside a sealed plastic bag, making sure to leave a space for air to circulate. Place the bagged plant in direct sunlight for a few hours. Afterward, use a carbon dioxide sensor or a carbon dioxide test kit to measure the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the plant. A decrease in carbon dioxide levels indicates photosynthesis. Chlorophyll Absorption: Photosynthesis relies on the absorption of sunlight by chlorophyll. You can indirectly measure photosynthesis by measuring the absorption of chlorophyll in a leaf. Start by collecting a leaf from a plant that has been exposed to sunlight. Crush the leaf and separate the chlorophyll pigment by filtering it through a coffee filter or paper towel. Use a spectrophotometer or a colorimeter to measure the absorbance of the chlorophyll at specific wavelengths. Higher absorbance indicates a higher rate of photosynthesis. Remember to only use safe and non-toxic substances and materials when conducting experiments at home.
What will happen to the rate of photosynthesis if the light intensity is increased?
If the light intensity is increased, the rate of photosynthesis will generally increase. Light is one of the key factors required for photosynthesis to occur. During the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, light energy is absorbed by pigments in the chloroplasts (such as chlorophyll) and is used to power the production of ATP and NADPH. Therefore, when light intensity increases, more light energy is available for the plants. This means that the rate of light-dependent reactions will also increase, resulting in more ATP and NADPH being produced. Consequently, the increased availability of ATP and NADPH will facilitate the synthesis of glucose during the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis (Calvin cycle). Ultimately, this leads to an overall increase in the rate of photosynthesis.
How do you think the rate of photosynthesis in plants is affected when we go from day to night?
The rate of photosynthesis in plants is significantly affected when transitioning from day to night due to several factors: Light availability: Photosynthesis relies on light energy. During the day, plants receive sunlight, which provides the energy needed for the process. When it becomes night, the absence of light limits the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide uptake: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the essential reactants in photosynthesis. During the day, plants actively take in CO2 from the atmosphere. At night, however, this uptake decreases as the stomata, small pores on the leaf surface that allow gas exchange, close to avoid excessive water loss. This closure reduces the availability of CO2 for photosynthesis. Energy storage: During the day, plants generate excess energy through photosynthesis that is stored as chemical energy in the form of starch or sugars. This stored energy is then used during the night to perform metabolic functions and support growth. As a result, the rate of photosynthesis drops during the night as the available energy is predominantly allocated to maintenance activities rather than growth. Overall, the rate of photosynthesis in plants declines during the transition from day to night due to light deprivation, reduced CO2 uptake, and energy allocation for other metabolic processes.
When an elodea plant is grown in bright light?
When an Elodea plant is grown in bright light, it undergoes several physiological and morphological changes. Here are some of the typical responses of an Elodea plant to bright light: Increased Photosynthesis: Bright light provides higher levels of energy (light intensity) necessary for photosynthesis. As a result, the Elodea plant will produce more carbohydrates and oxygen through photosynthesis. Enhanced Chlorophyll Production: High light intensity signals the Elodea plant to produce more chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for absorbing light energy. This leads to a greener appearance of the plant as chlorophyll levels increase. Increased Growth and Development: The Elodea plant grows faster and experiences greater overall development in bright light. The increased energy from photosynthesis fosters cell division, elongation, and expansion resulting in more robust growth. Enhanced Root System: In response to the increased photosynthesis and energy production, Elodea plants grown in bright light may develop a larger and more extensive root system. This allows for better nutrient and water uptake from the soil, supporting overall plant health. Reduced Elongation of Stems: Bright light indirectly affects the elongation of stems by stimulating the production of the hormone auxin. This hormone regulates plant growth and development, and in bright light conditions, it may help to prevent excessive stem elongation. Increased Oxygen Production: Bright light and increased photosynthesis lead to the release of oxygen as a byproduct. This can be observed through the bubbling effect as oxygen is generated within the plant's cells and released into the surrounding environment. Overall, growing Elodea plants in bright light conditions favors their growth, development, and photosynthetic capacity, resulting in healthier and more vibrant plants.
Which of the following would cause an increase in the rate of photosynthesis occurring in a plant?
Increased light intensity: Photosynthesis requires light as an energy source, so increasing the intensity of the light would provide more energy for the process to occur. Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration: Carbon dioxide is one of the essential raw materials for photosynthesis. Increasing the concentration of CO2 in the plant's environment would provide more carbon dioxide for the photosynthetic process. Adequate water supply: Water is also crucial for photosynthesis. Sufficient water availability ensures that the plant's cells remain turgid and hydrated, facilitating the movement of nutrients and water throughout the plant, including the chloroplasts where photosynthesis occurs. Optimal temperature: Photosynthesis is temperature-dependent. In general, warmer temperatures increase the rate of photosynthesis up to an optimal level. However, excessively high temperatures can denature the enzymes involved in photosynthesis, leading to a decrease in the rate. Sufficient nutrients: Plants require various nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients, to carry out photosynthesis effectively. Adequate levels of these nutrients in the soil allow the plant to synthesize the necessary molecules for photosynthesis. Well-functioning chloroplasts: Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells. If the chloroplasts are healthy and functioning properly, the rate of photosynthesis will be higher. Factors such as proper chloroplast functioning, effective chlorophyll production, and intact thylakoid structures can contribute to an increase in the rate of photosynthesis.
Why does the amount of carbon required by a plant increase as light intensity increases?
The amount of carbon required by a plant increases as light intensity increases because light is one of the primary energy sources used by plants for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process through which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a sugar molecule) and release oxygen as a byproduct. During photosynthesis, plants absorb light energy through pigments called chlorophyll, located in their chloroplasts. This light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. As light intensity increases, the availability of light energy for photosynthesis also increases. With more light energy, plants are able to drive photosynthesis at a faster rate, leading to increased production of glucose. This higher rate of photosynthesis allows plants to utilize more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the key components needed for photosynthesis, and increased light intensity can stimulate plants to uptake more carbon dioxide to meet their increased energy demands. Therefore, in order to maintain a high rate of photosynthesis and meet the increased energy requirements when light intensity is high, plants need to absorb more carbon dioxide, resulting in an increased demand for carbon.
Which of these would increase the rate of photosynthesis and lead to the production of more glucose?
Several factors can increase the rate of photosynthesis and lead to the production of more glucose. These factors include: Increased light intensity: Photosynthesis requires light energy, so increasing the intensity of light will result in more energy available for the process, leading to higher rates of photosynthesis and glucose production. Sufficient carbon dioxide (CO2) levels: Carbon dioxide is one of the essential raw materials for photosynthesis. Increasing the CO2 concentration in the surrounding air, such as in a greenhouse or through artificial means, can enhance photosynthesis and glucose production. Optimal temperature: Photosynthesis occurs most efficiently within a specific temperature range. Higher temperatures can enhance the enzymatic reactions involved in photosynthesis, resulting in increased glucose production. However, extremely high temperatures can damage the photosynthetic machinery. Sufficient water availability: Water is necessary for photosynthesis, especially during the light-dependent reactions. Ensuring adequate water supply to plants helps maintain healthy photosynthetic activity and higher glucose production. Sufficient nutrients: Plants require various nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients, for optimal growth and photosynthesis. Providing an adequate nutrient supply to plants through soil amendments or fertilizers can increase glucose production. Genetics and breeding: Selective breeding or genetic modification can create plant varieties with enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. These plants can perform photosynthesis more effectively and produce more glucose. It is important to note that all these factors work together to determine the maximum rate of photosynthesis in a given plant species. A balanced combination of these factors ensures optimal photosynthesis and higher glucose production.
Which of these would lead to a lower rate of photosynthesis in a plant?
There are several factors that can lead to a lower rate of photosynthesis in a plant. Some possible factors include: Insufficient light: Photosynthesis requires light energy for the process to occur. If a plant is not receiving enough light, it will lead to a lower rate of photosynthesis. Limited carbon dioxide availability: Carbon dioxide is one of the essential components used by plants during photosynthesis. If there is a limited supply of carbon dioxide in the environment, it can lead to a lower rate of photosynthesis. Inadequate water supply: Water is necessary for photosynthesis, as it is used in the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. If a plant does not have enough water, it can reduce the rate of photosynthesis. High temperatures: Although photosynthesis generally occurs optimally between certain temperature ranges, extremely high temperatures can actually inhibit the process. This is because excessive heat can damage the enzymes involved in photosynthesis. Nutrient deficiency: Plants require various nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, for their growth and metabolic processes. A deficiency in any of these essential nutrients can limit the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis. Presence of pollutants or toxins: Certain pollutants or toxins in the environment, such as air pollution or heavy metal contamination, can interfere with the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis efficiently, leading to a lower rate of photosynthesis. It is important to note that the impact of these factors on photosynthesis can vary depending on the specific plant species and its adaptation to different environmental conditions.
Does elodea respire in the light or in the dark?
Elodea respires in both light and dark conditions.
What is a biproduct of photosynthesis?
A byproduct of photosynthesis is oxygen.
How does wavelength affect photosynthesis?
Wavelength affects photosynthesis because different wavelengths of light contain different amounts of energy. The type of light most efficiently used by plants during photosynthesis is in the visible spectrum, specifically in the range from 400 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm, which includes the colors violet, blue, green, yellow, and red. Photosynthetic organisms use the energy from light most efficiently at the wavelengths of violet (400 nm) and red (700 nm).
Can the type of light make a difference in photosynthesis?
Yes, the type of light can make a difference in photosynthesis. Different wavelengths of light will be absorbed by the chlorophyll in different ways, which can affect how efficiently the photosynthesis process occurs. Certain wavelengths of light are more beneficial for photosynthesis than others, such as blue and red light, which are known as the "photosynthetically active radiation".
Which factor will decrease photosynthesis?
Decreasing light intensity, decreasing CO2 levels, increasing temperature, and increasing water availability may all decrease photosynthesis.
What does photo mean in photosynthesis?
Photo in photosynthesis refers to the process of capturing the energy from the sun which is then converted into chemical energy for plants. This energy is used by the plant to build sugars, carbohydrates, and other molecules essential for growth and development.
How does the rate of photosynthesis in area i compare to that in area ii?
The rate of photosynthesis in area i may be higher or lower than that in area ii, depending on various factors such as the availability of light, temperature, CO2 levels, and the presence of other limiting factors.
Why net photosynthesis is low during maximum gross photosynthesis?
Net photosynthesis is the total rate of photosynthesis minus the amount of carbon dioxide released. This is important to note because during maximum gross photosynthesis, the plant is taking in a lot of carbon dioxide and using it to produce carbohydrates. However, some of the carbon dioxide that is taken in is released back into the atmosphere as a result of respiration. This means that during maximum gross photosynthesis, the net photosynthesis rate is low due to the respiration losses.
Which would you expect to increase the rate of photosynthesis?
the most The factor that would increase the rate of photosynthesis the most is light intensity. This is because light is one of the most crucial factors in photosynthesis, and increasing the light intensity will increase the rate at which plants are able to convert light energy into chemical energy. Other factors such as increased carbon dioxide concentrations, temperature, and water availability can also affect photosynthesis, but light intensity has the greatest impact.
What is the effect of darkness on photosynthesis?
Darkness has a significant effect on photosynthesis, as the process cannot take place without light. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use energy from the sun to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. Without light, photosynthesis does not occur, and plants will not be able to make food for growth and development.
Why do high oxygen levels inhibit photosynthesis?
High oxygen levels inhibit photosynthesis because it can interfere with the chemical reaction that occurs during photosynthesis, known as the light-dependent reaction. Photosynthesis requires electrons, which are supplied by a chemical reaction that is inhibited by oxygen. When oxygen is present, the electrons are used to create water molecules instead of being used in the light-dependent reaction to create energy.
Which of the following factors affects the rate of photosynthesis in a plant?
Light intensity Temperature Carbon dioxide concentration Soil fertility Water availability
How does carbon dioxide levels affect photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide is essential to the process of photosynthesis. Its concentration in the atmosphere helps to determine the rate of photosynthesis in plants. As the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. This is because the carbon dioxide enters the leaves of the plants and is used in the Calvin cycle to form sugars from light energy and eventually produce food for the plant. However, as the concentration of carbon dioxide increases beyond a certain level, the rate of photosynthesis may begin to decline because the enzymes used to catalyze the reaction become saturated.
How does temperature affect oxygen production in photosynthesis?
Temperature affects oxygen production in photosynthesis by influencing the rate of photosynthesis. Warmer temperatures tend to increase the rate of photosynthesis, resulting in an increase in oxygen production. However, if temperatures become too hot, the rate of photosynthesis decreases and oxygen production is decreased.
How does temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis experiment?
A great experiment to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis could involve using a plant such as spinach leaves. It would be necessary to cut the leaves into small pieces and place it in a beaker filled with distilled water. Attach a syringe to the side of the beaker and fill it up with carbon dioxide. Place the beaker in a warmer setting and measure the amount of oxygen produced (byproducts of photosynthesis) over time. To measure the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis, take a second beaker with the same setup but place it in different temperatures. This can be completed by placing the second beaker in a refrigerator or freezer. Compare the amount of oxygen produced in both beakers and analyze the results to determine the effect of temperature on photosynthesis.
Does increasing the concentration of co 2 increase the rate of photosynthesis?
Yes, increasing the concentration of CO2 can increase the rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a process that occurs in plants and other organisms and involves the use of light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The process of photosynthesis requires a number of conditions to be optimal, such as sufficient light, water and temperature. Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide can increase the rate of photosynthesis by providing plants with additional carbon dioxide molecules which can be converted into glucose.
What are the complete photosynthetic units of plants?
The complete photosynthetic units of plants consist of four main parts: chloroplasts, thylakoids, grana, and pigments. Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which captures the energy from sunlight, and other pigments that absorb different wavelengths of light. These pigments are contained in membranes known as thylakoids, which are stacked in structures called grana. The energy absorbed by the pigments is used to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). This process is known as photosynthesis.
What is the relationship between photosynthesis and light intensity?
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in carbohydrate molecules such as glucose. The rate of photosynthesis is directly proportional to light intensity, meaning that as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. As light intensity decreases, the rate of photosynthesis decreases.
Where does the rate of photosynthesis do not depend?
Photosynthesis is not dependent on any particular location, as it occurs in all plants, regardless of geography.
How to measure net photothesis?
To measure net photosynthesis, you need to measure the amount of oxygen that is produced by the organism over a certain period of time. This can be done with techniques such as gas chromatography, or using an oxygen sensor. These techniques allow you to measure the net oxygen production, which is equivalent to the net photosynthesis rate of the organism.
How does co2 level affect oxygen production?
Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere can cause an increase in oxygen production, as the increased CO2 provides an additional source of energy for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to convert CO2 and water into sugars and oxygen. The oxygen produced is then released back into the atmosphere.
Which wavelengths of light drive the highest rates of photosynthesis?
The wavelengths of light that drive the highest rates of photosynthesis are between 400-500 nanometers (blue) and 600-700 nanometers (red).
How does carbon dioxide concentration affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis as it is used in the Calvin cycle, a process in which energy from light is used to convert carbon dioxide into sugar molecules. The rate of photosynthesis increases as the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, until a certain threshold is reached. After this threshold, increases in carbon dioxide concentration do not affect the rate of photosynthesis any further.
Why net of photosynthesis of brown seaweed decrease in light bottle oxygen method?
The net of photosynthesis of brown seaweed may decrease in light bottle oxygen method because of a number of factors including light intensity, temperatures, and carbon dioxide concentrations. As light intensity decreases, photosynthesis slows down. Similarly, higher temperatures can reduce the rate of photosynthesis. Additionally, lower carbon dioxide concentrations can decrease the rate of photosynthesis. All of these factors may lead to a decrease in net photosynthesis in the light bottle-oxygen method.
What is photo synthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, and some other organisms, use the energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into food. During this process, oxygen is also created as a by-product. The food created through photosynthesis is the primary energy source for almost all living organisms.
Which light range is least effective in photosynthesis?
The infrared light range is least effective in photosynthesis.
How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis experiment?
The experiment should be set up by providing multiple test tubes containing a sample of plant material (leaves, stems, or algae) in a photosynthesis solution. The test tubes should then be exposed to varying light intensities, and the rate of photosynthesis should be measured by the level of oxygen created in the test tubes over a set period of time. The results could then be compared to determine how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Which process uses oxygen in plants algae and animals?
Photosynthesis is the process of using oxygen in plants, algae, and animals. This process uses energy from the sun, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose, a type of sugar that can be used for energy production.
What is photosynthesis answer?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other photoautotrophs use the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. This process provides the basis for all life on Earth.
How does co2 concentration affect the rate of photosynthesis?
CO2 concentration affects the rate of photosynthesis by providing the carbon needed to form organic molecules during the process. High CO2 levels allow for more efficient, faster photosynthesis, while low CO2 levels slow photosynthesis.
How does the amount of energy in light change as the wavelength increases?
The amount of energy in light decreases as the wavelength increases. This is due to the inverse relationship between energy and wavelength. As wavelength increases, the frequency of the light decreases and therefore its energy decreases.
What light intensity and co2 level is best for photosynthesis?
The best light intensity and CO2 level for photosynthesis is between 200-500 micromoles of light per square meter per second and 350-600 ppm of CO2.
What is photosynthesis simple definition?
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organisms' activities.
What is the purpose of photosynthesis?
The purpose of photosynthesis is to convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy that can be used by plants and other organisms, to create sugars that can then be used for food. Photosynthesis also produces oxygen, which is essential for life on Earth.
How does the amount of light affect photosynthesis?
The amount of light affects photosynthesis because light is required for the process to take place. Photosynthesis involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. When light is present, the chloroplasts of plants absorb light energy, which helps to generate energy-rich molecules like glucose needed for plant growth and development. Without sufficient light, photosynthesis cannot take place.
What happens to the rate of photosynthesis as temperature decreases?
As temperature decreases, the rate of photosynthesis decreases. At very cold temperatures, photosynthesis may stop altogether.
When day light hours are increased the rate of photosynthesis?
The rate of photosynthesis will generally increase as the day length (and therefore the amount of available light) increases. The increase will stop when the light conditions become too intense, causing a decrease in photosynthesis.
Which light is necessary for higher photosynthetic rate?
A higher photosynthetic rate requires bright, full-spectrum light. This can be found in natural sunlight or bright artificial light such as LED grow lights.
What is compensation point in photosynthesis?
Compensation point is the light intensity where the rate of photosynthesis is equal to the rate of respiration. At this point, the plant reaches a balance between the energy produced by photosynthesis and the energy consumed by respiration. Below the compensation point, the rate of photosynthesis is insufficient to balance the rate of respiration, resulting in a net loss of energy. Above the compensation point, the rate of photosynthesis is greater than the rate of respiration, resulting in a net gain of energy.
Which plant is commonly used to find rate of photosynthesis?
The Elodea plant is commonly used to measure the rate of photosynthesis.
How is the rate of photosynthesis affected by wavelength?
The rate of photosynthesis is primarily affected by the amount of light available and the amount of chlorophyll present, but the wavelength of light can also play a role. The rate of photosynthesis is highest when plants absorb light in the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum, as these are the regions where chlorophyll is most efficient at absorbing light. When light with a wavelength outside of the visible spectrum, such as ultraviolet or infrared, is present, the rate of photosynthesis decreases.
What is photosynthisis?
Photosynthesis is the process plants and other organisms use to convert light energy, normally from the sun, into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organism's activities. Photosynthesis is vital for life on Earth as it provides the oxygen that most organisms need to breathe, as well as the food that many of them depend on.
What would increase the rate of photosynthesis?
Increasing the rate of photosynthesis can be achieved by providing the plant with adequate light, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients. Other factors that can increase the rate of photosynthesis include increasing air temperatures, increasing the surface area for light absorption, increasing the water supply, and increasing the availability of carbon dioxide. Additionally, using certain plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid can also increase the rate of photosynthesis.
How do the spectra of the sun and the green leaf compare?
The spectra of the Sun and a green leaf are very different. The Sun emits a continuous spectrum of light that spans the whole visible range and beyond, with the peak of its emission in the ultraviolet range. The green leaf on the other hand absorbs most of the visible light and reflects green light, hence why it appears as green.
What is the definition of photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight to create energy in the form of carbohydrates. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are converted into oxygen and sugars, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
How is the rate of photosynthesis impacted by light wavelength?
The rate of photosynthesis is impacted by the wavelength of light because different wavelengths of light are absorbed by different pigments in photosynthetic cells. For example, red and blue wavelengths are the most effective wavelengths for photosynthesis, while green and yellow wavelengths are the least effective. As the wavelength of light increases, the rate of photosynthesis typically decreases.
Why does the rate of photosynthesis decrease at high temperatures?
At high temperatures, the rate of photosynthesis decreases because elevated temperatures can damage enzymes involved in the photosynthesis process. This can cause the enzymes to become denatured and unable to catalyze the reactions necessary for photosynthesis to occur. Additionally, high temperatures can cause the stomata, which are the openings in the plant’s leaves through which CO2 enters, to close. This decreases the amount of CO2 available for photosynthesis, leading to a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis.
What is more important than light intensity in photosynthesis?
The primary driver of photosynthesis is the availability of carbon dioxide, so that is likely to be more important than light intensity. Other factors, such as temperature and the availability of water and nutrients, can also affect the rate of photosynthesis.
What temperature will result in the highest rate of photosynthesis?
The optimal temperature for photosynthesis is usually between 20-30°C (68-86°F). Higher temperatures can inhibit photosynthesis, so temperatures above 30°C (86°F) may not result in the highest rate of photosynthesis.
What increases the rate of photosynthesis?
Increasing the availability of water and nutrient supply. Increasing the intensity of light. Increasing the carbon dioxide concentration. Increasing the ambient temperature. Optimizing stomatal aperture. Increasing the number of chloroplasts per cell. Providing access to more efficient electron acceptor molecules, such as nitrate, rather than just water. Using certain enzymes that catalyze photosynthesis, such as Rubisco.
How does oxygen production relate to the rate of photosynthesis?
Oxygen production is a direct result of the rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, and this process produces oxygen as a waste product. The rate of photosynthesis is directly related to the amount of light available, and so the rate at which oxygen is produced is also related to the rate of photosynthesis.
How to change the rate of photosynthesis?
The rate of photosynthesis can be changed by altering the environmental conditions in which the process takes place. Factors that can affect the rate of photosynthesis include: temperature, light intensity, the availability of carbon dioxide and water, and the presence of other nutrients or enzymes. Increasing the temperature, light intensity and availability of carbon dioxide often increases the rate of photosynthesis. Increasing the availability of water or other nutrients can also increase the rate of photosynthesis.
How to measure the rate of photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis rates can be measured by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) used and/or the amount of oxygen (O2) produced. The rate of photosynthesis can also be measured by monitoring the rate of photosynthetic compounds such as chlorophyll a, the light-harvesting pigment, or measuring the rate of production of carbohydrates such as glucose. Other techniques to measure the rate of photosynthesis include measuring the light absorption and drive current or the electron transport rates. Additionally, fluorescence techniques can be used to measure light-activated photosynthesis.
How to measure photosynthetic rate?
Photosynthetic rate can be measured by recording the production of oxygen from leaves or algae through a process called oxygen evolution. This is done by measuring the increase in oxygen concentrations over a certain period of time in a sealed apparatus that contains the material being studied. Additionally, photosynthetic rate can be measured by measuring the decrease in carbon dioxide levels, as photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the air. Finally, photosynthetic rate can also be measured using chlorophyll fluorescence, which measures the amount of energy absorbed by the chloroplasts during photosynthesis.
How to calculate rate of photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis rate can be determined by measuring the rate at which the amount of oxygen released by the plant into the environment increases over a period of time. This can be done using a dissolved oxygen meter. The amount of oxygen released is directly proportional to the rate of photosynthesis.
What is net photosynthesis and how is it measured?
Net photosynthesis is the difference between the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of respiration, and is measured by measuring the production of oxygen in the presence of light.
What is the difference between photosynthesis rate and net photosynthesis rate?
Photosynthesis rate is the rate at which light energy is converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis. Net photosynthesis rate is the rate at which photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation occurs after subtracting the respiration rate, or the rate at which energy is released from organic molecules as a result of cellular respiration.
How is the net photosynthesis rate related to the rates you determined?
Net photosynthesis rate is the sum of the rates of photosynthesis and respiration. The net photosynthesis rate is a measure of the net rate of carbon dioxide being taken up by the plant and converted into biomass. The rates that were determined during the experiment, such as the rate of light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis, are all factors that contribute to the overall net photosynthesis rate.
How is net photosynthesis different from gross photosynthesis?
Net photosynthesis is the total amount of photosynthesis after the respiration that takes place in the plant has been taken into account. It is the amount of carbon that is actually incorporated into the plant. Gross photosynthesis is the total amount of photosynthesis before respiration has been taken into account. It is the amount of carbon that enters the plant but is not necessarily stored.

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Effects of cascara cherry and other coffee litter mulching on soil properties, photosynthesis, and water use efficiency of coffea canephora pierre ex a. froehner cv. reyan no.1 seedling.

what is the rate of photosynthesis meaning

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. experimental site, 2.2. experimental materials, 2.3. experimental design, 2.4. measurement indicators, 2.5. statistical analysis, 3.1. the difference of soil properties and microenvironment under coffee litter and cascara mulch treatments, 3.2. the difference of coffee plant agronomic traits under coffee litter and cascara mulch treatments, 3.3. the difference of coffee plants’ photosynthetic indices under coffee litter and cascara mulch treatments, 3.4. the correlation among photosynthetic indicators, agronomic traits, and microenvironment index, 3.5. comprehensive evaluation of the effect of coffee litter and cascara on coffee photosynthetic physiological indices, 4. discussion, 4.1. effect of coffee litter and cascara mulch on soil properties and microenvironment, 4.2. effect of coffee litter and cascara mulch on coffee agronomic traits and photosynthetic indexes, 4.3. effect of coffee litter and cascara mulch on the water use efficiency of coffee, 4.4. comprehensive assessment of coffee litter and cascara mulch on the photosynthetic physiology of coffee plant, 5. conclusions, author contributions, data availability statement, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest.

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Click here to enlarge figure

Mulch PatternSM
(%)
ST
(°C)
pHSBD
(N·m )
SOM
(g·kg )
SAK
(mg·kg )
SOP
(mg·kg )
SAN
(mg·kg )
C8.20 ± 0.8627.55 ± 0.065.65 ± 0.321.59 ± 0.0821.99 ± 1.5636.28 ± 5.6629.64 ± 6.9086.72 ± 10.41
L8.33 ± 0.8827.33 ± 0.055.57 ± 0.301.61 ± 0.1022.10 ± 2.7746.42 ± 4.7827.74 ± 4.8190.84 ± 13.97
P7.26 ± 0.6227.28 ± 0.075.55 ± 0.181.57 ± 0.0921.33 ± 3.3633.01 ± 7.8628.09 ± 8.5091.70 ± 17.45
LP8.53 ± 1.2327.18 ± 0.075.76 ± 0.231.60 ± 0.0921.28 ± 2.8454.93 ± 10.1033.48 ± 9.7690.15 ± 13.32
Mulch PatternSMSTpHSBDSOMSAKSOPSAN
L0.586.66 *0.020.050.074.70 *0.070.02
P0.1610.40 **0.070.080.000.130.050.01
L × P0.380.820.310.000.000.640.220.04
Mulch PatternSLALAIHeightSPAD
L0.630.086.39 *1.39
P6.83 *0.161.642.15
L × P0.630.230.091.06
Overlay ModeG T P RP CUEWUE WUE
L0.620.711.630.140.492.350.680.89
P0.020.204.60 *7.11 **10.19 ***0.019.99 **4.50 *
L × P8.89 **7.27 **3.010.492.865.19 *0.061.22
Environment and Coffee PropertiesContribution Rate %F Valuep Value
ST164.20.01
SAK7.31.70.05
SPAD6.71.60.09
Height6.01.40.11
SM4.51.00.37
pH3.60.80.45
SOM2.20.50.60
SLA2.40.50.62
LAI1.60.30.75
SBD1.10.30.84
SAN1.00.20.87
SOP0.50.10.92
CK0.590.000.071.000.000.000.000.00
L0.001.000.000.111.001.000.770.10
P1.000.240.560.320.900.631.001.00
LP0.260.131.000.000.190.110.880.68
CK0.000.000.000.000.144
L0.491.000.620.250.533
P1.000.571.000.850.761
LP0.800.620.951.000.552
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Share and Cite

Zhang, A.; Chen, S.-S.; Lin, X.-J.; Yan, L.; Huang, Y.-L.; Sun, Y.; Zhao, Q.-Y.; Zhao, S.-G.; Li, L.-H.; Long, Y.-Z.; et al. Effects of Cascara Cherry and Other Coffee Litter Mulching on Soil Properties, Photosynthesis, and Water Use Efficiency of Coffea Canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner cv. Reyan No.1 Seedling. Agronomy 2024 , 14 , 1418. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071418

Zhang A, Chen S-S, Lin X-J, Yan L, Huang Y-L, Sun Y, Zhao Q-Y, Zhao S-G, Li L-H, Long Y-Z, et al. Effects of Cascara Cherry and Other Coffee Litter Mulching on Soil Properties, Photosynthesis, and Water Use Efficiency of Coffea Canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner cv. Reyan No.1 Seedling. Agronomy . 2024; 14(7):1418. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071418

Zhang, Ang, Su-Sen Chen, Xing-Jun Lin, Lin Yan, Yan-Li Huang, Yan Sun, Qing-Yun Zhao, Shao-Guan Zhao, Li-Hua Li, Yu-Zhou Long, and et al. 2024. "Effects of Cascara Cherry and Other Coffee Litter Mulching on Soil Properties, Photosynthesis, and Water Use Efficiency of Coffea Canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner cv. Reyan No.1 Seedling" Agronomy 14, no. 7: 1418. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071418

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  1. Photosynthesis Meaning And Occurence

  2. Factors Affecting Rate of Photosynthesis. #shorts #biology #neetconcepts #photosynthesis

  3. The meaning of Photosynthesis

  4. Investigating rate of photosynthesis

  5. Rate of photosynthesis is I. greater in intense light than in diffused light . II. Minimum

  6. Photosynthesis Meaning In Marathi

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  1. Photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis ( / ˌfoʊtəˈsɪnθəsɪs / FOH-tə-SINTH-ə-sis) [1] is a system of biological processes by which photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their activities.

  2. Photosynthesis

    In chemical terms, photosynthesis is a light-energized oxidation-reduction process. (Oxidation refers to the removal of electrons from a molecule; reduction refers to the gain of electrons by a molecule.) In plant photosynthesis, the energy of light is used to drive the oxidation of water (H 2 O), producing oxygen gas (O 2 ), hydrogen ions (H ...

  3. Intro to photosynthesis (article)

    Photosynthesis is the process in which light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of sugars. In a process driven by light energy, glucose molecules (or other sugars) are constructed from water and carbon dioxide, and oxygen is released as a byproduct. The glucose molecules provide organisms with two crucial resources: energy and ...

  4. Photosynthesis

    The process. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO 2) and water (H 2 O) from the air and soil. Within the plant cell, the water is oxidized, meaning it loses electrons, while the carbon dioxide is reduced, meaning it gains electrons. This transforms the water into oxygen and the carbon dioxide into glucose.

  5. Photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis Equation. 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + Light -> C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 + 6 H 2 O. Above is the overall reaction for photosynthesis. Using the energy from light and the hydrogens and electrons from water, the plant combines the carbons found in carbon dioxide into more complex molecules. While a 3-carbon molecule is the direct result of ...

  6. Photosynthesis in organisms (article)

    Photosynthesis is powered by energy from sunlight. This energy is used to rearrange atoms in carbon dioxide and water to make oxygen and sugars. Carbon dioxide and water are inputs of photosynthesis. These inputs come from the environment. Oxygen and sugars are outputs of photosynthesis. The oxygen is released into the environment.

  7. Photosynthesis review (article)

    Meaning. Photosynthesis. The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy to chemical energy in the form of sugars. Photoautotroph. An organism that produces its own food using light energy (like plants) ATP. Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in living things. Chloroplast.

  8. Photosynthesis

    The word 'photosynthesis' is derived from the Greek word phōs, meaning 'light' and synthesis meaning 'combining together.' ... Although all the above factors together interact to affect the rate of photosynthesis, each of them individually is also capable of directly influencing the process without the other factors and thus called ...

  9. The Purpose and Process of Photosynthesis

    photosynthesis: the process by which plants and other photoautotrophs generate carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide, water, and light energy in chloroplasts. photoautotroph: an organism that can synthesize its own food by using light as a source of energy. chemoautotroph: a simple organism, such as a protozoan, that derives its energy ...

  10. Photosynthesis, Chloroplast

    The chloroplast is involved in both stages of photosynthesis. The light reactions take place in the thylakoid. There, water (H 2 O) is oxidized, and oxygen (O 2) is released. The electrons that ...

  11. Photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis definition states that the process exclusively takes place in the chloroplasts through photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotene and xanthophyll. ... Light Intensity: Increased light intensity results in a higher rate of photosynthesis. On the other hand, low light intensity results in a lower rate of ...

  12. Rate of photosynthesis

    National 4; Photosynthesis - limiting factors Rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use light energy to make their own food. Chlorophyll in the plant cells ...

  13. Photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis rate greater than respiration rate: Carbon dioxide taken in, oxygen given out: Purple: When the rate of photosynthesis is greater than the rate of respiration, then there is a gain ...

  14. What are limiting factors in photosynthesis? Respiration and gas ...

    The rate of photosynthesis can be increased by adding more carbon dioxide. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

  15. What is photosynthesis?

    What affects the rate of photosynthesis. Four factors affect the rate of photosynthesis. The faster it occurs, the more the plant grows. Light - the more light there is, the faster photosynthesis occurs. Water - lack of water slows photosynthesis down. Temperature - photosynthesis works best at around 30 degrees Celsius.

  16. Photosynthetic Rate

    The rate of photosynthesis was higher in well-watered post oak and white oak than in sugar maple or black walnut seedlings (Ni and Pallardy, 1991). The rate of photosynthesis of mature leaves of oil palm is among the highest reported for trees (Ceulemans and Saugier, 1991). Photosynthetic rates of even closely related species may differ ...

  17. Light-dependent reactions (photosynthesis reaction) (article)

    Purple sulfur bacteria, in contrast, carry out anoxygenic photosynthesis, meaning that water is not used as an electron source and oxygen gas is not produced. ... I'm trying to understand how factors such as carbon dioxide levels affect the rate of photosynthesis when light intensity is already at its maximum, and the light reactions occur at ...

  18. How does the level of light affect the rate of photosynthesis?

    In photosynthesis, the energy from the sun is used to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into sugar. Oxygen is a waste product. More light can mean more photosynthesis. It doesn't necessarily mean more though. When we think of photosynthesis as a process, we can see that there are at least three things that can limit the process: light ...

  19. Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis

    Plants need several factors for photosynthesis to occur:. The presence of photosynthetic pigments; A supply of carbon dioxide; A supply of water; Light energy; A suitable temperature; If there is a shortage of any of these factors, photosynthesis cannot occur at its maximum possible rate; The main external factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis are:

  20. Photosynthetic Rate

    Photosynthetic rates directly above vent discharges are generally lower if compared to the surrounding areas, possibly due to the presence of high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, metals, and higher temperatures (Tarasov et al., 1990, 1999 ). For example, Gomez-Saez et al. (2017), indicated that for 55°C sediments in Dominica, while ...

  21. Light and photosynthetic pigments

    Plants, on the other hand, are experts at capturing light energy and using it to make sugars through a process called photosynthesis. This process begins with the absorption of light by specialized organic molecules, called pigments, that are found in the chloroplasts of plant cells.Here, we'll consider light as a form of energy, and we'll also see how pigments - such as the chlorophylls ...

  22. Net photosynthesis

    The rate of photosynthesis is a gross measure of the rate at which a plant captures radiant energy and fixes it in organic carbon compounds. However, it is often more important to consider, and very much easier to measure, the net gain. Net photosynthesis is the increase (or decrease) in dry matter that results from the difference between gross ...

  23. Apparatus and techniques Measuring the rate of photosynthesis

    The rate of photosynthesis at point A is being limited by the concentration of carbon dioxide. The evidence for this is that as the concentration of carbon dioxide is increased, the rate of ...

  24. Agronomy

    The impact of coffee cascara and litter mulch on the net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, CUE, and WUE of coffee leaves remains inconclusive. ... soil-available phosphorus; SAN: soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen. Data are presented as mean ± standard errors. Table 2. Two-way ANOVA on microclimate and physiochemical ...