Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

photoautotrophs

Photosynthesis: organisms trap the energy of light to produce their own food
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

leaves

• food factories of plants

• Well adapted to carry on the

photosynthetic functions
 Photosynthesis

Raw materials of Photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide

• Can pass through the leaves

via stomata (singular: stoma)

Water

• Usually enters the roots

then up to leaves via xylem
Other important factors in Photosynthesis
pigments
chlorophyll
• gives green color to plants
• traps light
• chloroplast: actual of
photosynthetic process
energy
photons
• energy from the sun in
discrete packets
• Different wavelengths of
light has different energy
Other important factors in Photosynthesis

temperature Electron carriers and enzymes

• photosynthetic process • Chemical substances incorporated in

occurs within 50o Celsius the chloroplasts
to 450o Celsius • Electron carriers: can readily accept
• Optimum temperature is at and release high-energy electrons
350o Celsius • Enzymes: can speed up or slow down
reactions
 Chloroplasts and Pigments

chloroplasts
• disc-shaped structures suspended
in the cytoplasm of plant cells.

thylakoid
• thin, flat, disc-like sacs

stroma
• Jelly-like fluid that holds where Parts of a chloroplast
thylakoids are suspended
granum (pl. grana)
• pile of thylakoid
 Chloroplasts and Pigments

reaction center
• type of chlorophyll that can absorb
light energy and can readily release
an electron

electron transport chain

• series of electron carriers

antenna/chlorophyll molecules
• gather and absorb light until it example of photosystem
reaches the reaction center
The Light Reaction of Photosynthesis

Takes place during daytime and occurs at the

thylakoids of a chloroplast.

The Cyclic Light Reaction

• Involves photosystem I wherein reaction
center is P700 (chlorophyll a)

• P700 is activated as it absorbs light and

thereby releasing high-energy electrons

•
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): high-
energy substance formed from the series
of electron carriers
• As energy is passed along, electrons
loses some energy and goes back to
where it belong
The Light Reaction of Photosynthesis

Takes place during daytime and occurs at the

thylakoids of a chloroplast.

The Non-Cyclic Light Reaction

• Involves photosystems I and II
• P680 is activated as it absorbs light
energy then releasing high-energy
electron
• The electron that goes back to its
ground state is donated to photosystem I
The Dark Reaction of Photosynthesis

Image source: https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/photos/000/274/27413.jpg

The Dark Reaction of Photosynthesis

Stage 1. Carbon Fixation

• method plants use to attach carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere to a
chemical (RuBP) in order to start the
process of photosynthesis.

Stage 2. Reduction Phase

• where energy reacts with chemicals
to create the simple sugar G3P.
The Dark Reaction of Photosynthesis

Stage 3. Carbohydrate Formation

• Glucose is formed from G3P

Stage 4. Regeneration Phase

• where energy and sugar interact to
form the molecule RuBP, allowing the
cycle to start again
SUMMARY
 SUMMARY

Photosynthesis: organisms trap the energy of light to produce their own food
 SUMMARY

Other important factors in Photosynthesis

pigments energy temperature Electron carriers and

enzymes
chlorophyll photons
 SUMMARY

Parts of a chloroplast
example of photosystem
 SUMMARY

The Light Reaction of Photosynthesis

The Cyclic Light Reaction
The Non-Cyclic Light Reaction
SUMMARY The Dark Reaction of Photosynthesis