A Summary Of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis happens in 2 stages.

Both occur in the chloroplast of plant cells and algae.

 The Light reactions:  The Calvin Cycle:

1. Energy is absorbed from 1. CO2and the chemical energy
sunlight and converted into that is stored in ATP and
chemical energy. NADPH is used to form
organic compounds.
2. Chemical energy is then
stored in ATP and NADPH.
 A Summary Of Photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis is an ongoing cycle. HOW?
• The products of the Calvin Cycle are used in the light reactions and
the products of the light reactions are used in the Calvin Cycle.

• Other products of the Calvin Cycle are used to produce a variety

of organic compounds:
-Amino acids - Lipids - Carbohydrates

• Some plants produce extra Carbohydrates, they can be stored as

starch in the chloroplast and in structures such as: roots and
fruits.
• These stored carbohydrates provide chemical energy that
autotrophs and heterotrophs depend on.
 A Summary Of Photosynthesis
• Light reactions in the thylakoid and the Calvin
Cycle in the Stroma work together as a
continues cycle—photosynthesis.

• This process occur in every one of the

thousands of chloroplasts in the plant if the
conditions are right.
 A Summary Of Photosynthesis
• When water is split during the light reactions, it
produces electrons, protons and oxygen as a byproduct.
• Simplest equation for Photosynthesis includes both
light reaction and the Calvin Cycle.

• (CH2O) represents the general formula for a

carbohydrates .
• Its is often replaced in this equation by the carbohydrate
glucose C6H12O6
 A Summary Of Photosynthesis
• However, glucose is not a direct product of
photosynthesis.

• Glucose is often included in the equation to

emphasize the relationship between
photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

• Just as the light reactions and the Calvin Cycle

create an ongoing cycle, photosynthesis and
cellular respiration also create an ongoing cycle.
 A Summary Of Photosynthesis
• The Light Reaction are referred to as light-
dependent reaction.
• Because the energy from light is required for the reactions to
occur.

• The Calvin Cycle is referred to light-independent or the dark

reactions.
• Because the Calvin Cycle does not require light directly.

• But the Calvin Cycle usually proceeds during daytime, when

the light reactions are producing the materials that the Calvin
Cycle uses to fix carbon into organic compounds.
Factors That Affect Photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis is affected by the
environment.

• Three factors that influence

photosynthesis:
1. Light Intensity
2. CO2 level
3. Temperature
 Factors That Influence Photosynthesis
1. Light intensity:
• As light intensity increases, the rate
of photosynthesis increases.

• Higher light intensity excites more

electrons in both photosystems, so
the light reactions occur more
rapidly.

• However, at some point all of the

available electrons are excited and
the maximum rate of photosynthesis
is reached.

• The rate stays level regardless of

further increases in light intensity.
Factors That Affect Photosynthesis
2. Carbon Dioxide Levels:
• Increasing level of CO2
stimulates
photosynthesis until the
rate of photosynthesis
levels off.
• Thus, a graph of the rate
of photosynthesis versus
CO2 concentration would
resemble this figure.
 Factors That Affect Photosynthesis
3. Temperature:
• Increasing temperature accelerates the chemical
reactions involved in photosynthesis.

• As a result, the rate of photosynthesis increases as

temperature increases.

• The rate peaks at a certain temperature, at which

many of the enzymes that catalyze the reactions
become ineffective.

• Also, the stomata begin to close, limiting water loss

and CO2 entry into the leaves.

• These conditions cause the rate of photosynthesis to

decrease when the temperature is further increased.