B4 Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is vital in providing food for plants, and acts as the base of all food chains as well as providing oxygen. It manages this by transferring energy from sunlight into energy in chemicals such as glucose and starch by use of chlorophyll, a green pigment, which is capable of absorbing light. Water + Carbon Dioxide (Sunlight and Chlorophyll) Glucose + Oxygen The Glucose Creates is used for various things: Some is used straight away, to give the plant energy Some is stored up as starch or oil, in different parts of the plant Some is used to make cellulose for cell walls Some is combined with minerals, and used to make proteins and the other things plants need for growth. Since carbon dioxide is also one of the reactants, and oxygen one of its products it can clearly make a significant difference to the concentration of the gases in the atmosphere. In the day there is a much higher concentration of oxygen because of photosynthesis, whereas during the night only respiration occurs, thus leading to a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. However, in general it means more oxygen less carbon dioxide in the air.

Limiting Factors
Temperature Temperature affects the activity of enzymes greatly, which can affect the rate of photosynthesis. Temperature can be controlled by using a green house to trap heat energy and maintained by use of heaters and heat lamps. Light Intensity Intensify light source for plants to increase the rate of photosynthesis to some extent until its limited by carbon dioxide concentration. Carbon Dioxide concentration With higher amounts of carbon dioxide the rate of photosynthesis can increase for a time. Carbon dioxide can be added by use of burners inside a green house to produce extra. Potassium or Sodium hydroxide can remove Carbon Dioxide from the air. Wavelengths of light Chlorophyll absorbs most colors except green. This is the the right kind of light needed for photosynthesis, whereas it reflects and transmits green (thus the reason chlorophyll is a green pigment).

However water isnt really considered as a limiting factor because of the abundance of it. When a plant doesnt acquire enough water its cells become flaccid and the plant wilts which usually leads it to lack light for photosynthesis instead which eventually kills it. Nonetheless, this can be prevented by use of systems such as irrigation or sprinklers.

Structure versus Function

Leaves are structured in ways to encourage photosynthesis to occur effectively: External Structure The leaves are thin so carbon dioxide can reach the inner cells easily. They are flat, to maximize the surface area absorbing light. They have plenty of veins to carry water to the photosynthesizing cells and carry glucose away. They have plenty of stomata in the lower skin to encourage gaseous exchange. Internal structure Palisade layers Full of chloroplasts which contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis

This is positioned near the upper surface of the leaf, with only the epidermis above them which have no chloroplast. They are arranged vertically so that light does not have to past a lot of cell walls. Waxy cuticle Allows the leaf to remain dry and not drown Spongy Layers Gaps for diffusion, in contact with outside air, carbon dioxide close to palisade cells in spongy layer Stomata Fast gaseous exchange Starch tests on leaves 1. Remove a piece of the leaf 2. Place the piece in a bath of boiling water for a minute, thus effectively killing the leaf 3. Put the dead leaf into alcohol and heat in hot water for up to 5 minutes to remove the color. 4. Dip the white leaf into hot water to soften it. 5. Spread on a white tile or dish. 6. Add iodine solution and observe the color after a minute. 7. Blue/black color indicates where the starch is. The plants also need nitrate ions from the soil since they provide nitrogen for the plant which is responsible for strong stem and healthy leaf growth. Nitrates combine with glucose in order to form amino acids which are important for protein synthesis.