PHOTOSYNTHESIS

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
❏ Plants are autotrophs, meaning they can make their own food.
❏ Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to convert
carbon dioxide and water into sugars (glucose), releasing oxygen as a
by-product.
❏ Chlorophyll, which is found in chloroplast, is the green photosynthetic
pigment that absorbs sunlight in plants.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF A LEAF
 INTERNAL ADAPTATIONS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
❏ The upper epidermis is a single, transparent layer of cells that secrete a
waxy cuticle. The cuticle prevents the desiccation of the leaf.
❏ Palisade mesophyll cells are closely packed and contain numerous
chloroplasts to increase the rate of photosynthesis.

❏ Spongy mesophyll cells are

irregularly shaped with air spaces
around them, allowing for the rapid
diffusion of carbon dioxide. They
also contains chloroplasts and are
covered in a thin layer of water.
 INTERNAL ADAPTATIONS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
❏ The xylem transports water (and minerals) to the mesophyll cells.
Water enters the plant from the soil via the root.
❏ The phloem transports sugars and other products of photosynthesis
away from photosynthetic cells to other parts of the plant.
INTERNAL ADAPTATIONS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
❏ The lower epidermis also secretes a waxy cuticle, but also contains
small pores called stomata. A pair of guard cells regulate the
opening and closing of the stoma.
❏ Carbon dioxide diffuse into the leaf via the stomata, while oxygen
and water vapour diffuse out
EXTERNAL ADAPTATIONS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
❏ A large surface area maximizes the
amount of sunlight absorbed.
❏ A thin lamina increases the rate of
diffusion of gases.
❏ The petiole holds the leaf away from the
stem, maximizing the amount of sunlight
absorbed.
❏ Leaves are at 90° to the sunlight and
spaced around the stem to intercept as
much light as possible.
 FATE OF GLUCOSE
❏ The glucose produced during photosynthesis can be used in respiration to
release energy.
❏ Glucose can be converted to sucrose and transported around the plant.
Sucrose is soluble and less reactive than glucose.
❏ In the leaf and some storage organs, glucose can be stored as starch and
used later.
❏ Glucose and be converted to other carbohydrates, such as cellulose, and
even to proteins and lipids (fats and oils).
 STARCH TEST
If photosynthesis occurred in a leaf, starch will be present. Iodine solution,
which is a yellow-brown solution, can be used to test for the presence of starch.

❏ First, boil the leaf in water for 1 minute. This kills the leaf, stopping any
chemical reactions.

❏ Then, boil the leaf in ethanol for

ten minutes. This dissolves the
chlorophyll.
❏ Next, wash the leaf in cold water.
❏ Apply a few drops of iodine
solution to the leaf.
❏ A blue-black colour indicates a
positive test for starch.
 FACTORS AFFECTING PHOTOSYNTHESIS
A submerged water plant, such as Elodea, can be used to investigate the rate of
photosynthesis and that oxygen is released during photosynthesis. The gas
bubbles released from the plant will collect in the test tube. If a glowing splint
ignites, it indicates that oxygen gas was produced. Factor affecting the rate of
photosynthesis are:

❏ Light intensity
❏ Carbon dioxide
concentration
❏ Temperature
❏ Water
LIGHT INTENSITY

The rate of photosynthesis increases

with increasing light intensity until
it reaches a plateau.

When the plateau is reached, light

is no longer the limiting factor in
the reaction.
 CARBON DIOXIDE
Increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide, will increase the rate of
photosynthesis as the plant as more resources to make more glucose.

Eventually a plateau is reached, where another factor becomes the

limiting factor for photosynthesis.
 TEMPERATURE
The chemical reactions of
photosynthesis are controlled by
enzymes.

The higher the temperature, the

faster the rate of photosynthesis.

Too high a temperature will

denature the enzymes, and
photosynthesis will stop.
 WATER
The availability of water varies in
the environment.

If the soil is dry, water may be the

limiting factor on photosynthesis.

If water is in short supply, the plant

would not be able to use it during
photosynthesis.
 GREENHOUSES
Some farmers grow plants in greenhouses to control the temperature,
carbon dioxide concentration and reduce the pests present, which can
increase the crop yield.
THE END : )