Photosynthesis Limiting Factors (Factors Affecting)

Photosynthesis is a natural process that occurs in autotrophic organisms like

algae, some microorganisms, and all plants. This process is used to produce
foods on their own with the aid of sunlight, water, and CO2 (carbon dioxide).
Products made include GLUCOSE AND OXYGEN. Glucose can be considered
as the sole structural and functional energy source, they create cellular
structures in the plant cell like a cell wall, and energy can be acquired from the
breakdown of glucose via the cellular respiration process. The oxygen evolved
as a result of the photosynthetic reaction is essential for the survival of most
life on earth, as it provides the necessary function of electron acceptor in the
cellular respiration process.

Factor Affecting Rate Of Photosynthesis (Limiting Factors)

The limiting factors can be divided into two parts:
1. External factors – Carbon dioxide, light, water, and temperature.
2. Internal Factors – Chlorophyll content, protoplasmic composition,
accumulation of by-products, hormones, leaf anatomy and age.
 The internal factors do not play an important role as the limiting factors
though they do matter and are crucial for the proper functioning of the
photosynthetic pathways being carried out.

Photosynthesis Limiting Factors

Light as Photosynthesis Limiting Factors
Photosynthesis does not occur in the absence of light, hence there is no
photosynthesis during night hours but only during day hours. There are three
attributes of sunlight of importance in photosynthesis which includes intensity,
quality, and duration of exposure to light.

Light Intensity and Photosynthesis

 The intensity of light regulates the rate of the photosynthetic process.

 Photosynthesis initiates at a low light intensity and the rate increases
till high-intensity light in bright daylight is reached.
 Even though plants only need 1.5% light to perform photosynthesis, at lower
intensities, this can become a limiting factor despite the presence of
sufficient carbon dioxide and water.
 Plants kept for a longer period in high-intensity light cause increased
transpiration due to a rise in the plant’s internal temperature causing the
stomata to close.
 Closed stomata cannot take up CO2 hence reducing photosynthesis. Thus
excessive light inhibits photosynthesis.
 If the internal temperature of plants is balanced, the plants exposed to
sunlight for a longer duration lead to more photosynthesis.
 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue wavelengths of light most effectively from
the light spectrum.
Carbon Dioxide as Photosynthesis Limiting Factors
Carbon dioxide as a gaseous molecule is very less in the atmosphere with only
0.03% among other atmospheric gases. This causes less availability and
scarcity of CO2 for plant consumption, making it a limiting factor for
photosynthesis. Experiments have suggested that increasing carbon dioxide
concentration causes a photosynthetic rate to increase if light and
temperature are not limiting factors. But CO2 starts accumulating after a
certain limit and slows down the photosynthetic process and may also inhibit
it.

Carbon dioxide and Photosynthesis

Water as Photosynthesis Limiting Factors

Even though water is abundant in nature but its distribution varies among
regions. Their effect is indirect in photosynthesis. When water uptake is low
due to less availability, the stomata present in the leaves or stems begin to
close to avoid water loss due to transpiration. Closing of stomata leads to
reduced carbon dioxide uptake, hence decreasing the rate of photosynthesis.

Temperature as Photosynthesis Limiting Factors

All biochemical and biological processes occur at an optimum range of
temperature in all living organisms. Photosynthesis is also a biological process
and the photosynthetic rate has been observed to rise over a temperature
range of 6 to 37 degrees Celcius. The plant tissues die at 43 degrees Celcius,
so there is an abrupt fall in photosynthesis. Higher temperatures also cause
the denaturation of proteins, and the inactivation of enzymes involved,
alternatively regulating enzymatic dark reaction of photosynthesis. Above 25-
30 degrees Celsius, the rate of photosynthesis is reduced.

Temperature and Photosynthesis

Blackman’s Law of Limiting Factors

Blackman gave the statement that ‘when a process is conditioned as to its
rapidity by a number of separate factors, the rate of the process is limited by
the pace of the slowest factor.’ This means that when any process is
regulated by more than one factor, then the rate of the process will be
determined by the factor which has the minimum value among all
factors. This minimum value factor is directly proportional to the rate of the
process being governed.

Photosynthesis
Law of limiting factors
For instance, in the green leaves under optimum light intensity and
temperature, with low levels of carbon dioxide concentration, the
photosynthesis rate may falter unless optimum CO2 levels are achieved.