Determining major inputs of photosynthesis by using oxygen gas production

as the indicator in cabage(Brassica Oleracea) leaf.

Pubudu Nuwan Dissanayake. Uva wellassa University Badulla
Abstract
Photosynthesis is vital for the life of plants and for all animals on the planet.Main aim of the
experiment was to examine the major inputs of photosynthesis by limiting the light and CO2
while using production of Oxygen as the indicator of the photosynthesis.In the presence of light
and sodium bicarbonate 80% leaf disks floated.while only 3.74% and 0.47% of leaf disks floated
when absence of sodium bicarbonate and absence of light respectively.This experiment conclude
that light and carbondioxide are necessary factors for the photosynthesis.
Introduction
Photosynthesis is the process by which light energy is converted into chemical bond energy by
autotrophic organisms.In this process plants use to change carbon dioxide and water into sugar
using sunlight, and the process gives off oxygen.
Photosynthesis is a two stage process.The light dependent reactions which involve the capture of
light energy and its insertion in NADPH and ATP. It's the stage that involves light absorbing
pigments such as chlorophyll and produces oxygen by the photolysis of water. An electron
transport chain produces NADPH directly, and ATP indirectly through a proton gradient that it
sets up as happens in mitochondria. the light independent reactions, the Calvin cycle, which
utilise that energy in NADPH and ATP to build glucose also using (fixing) carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere.The aim of this study was to examine the major inputs of photosynthesis by
conducting a scientific experiment while using production of O2 as the identified factor of
photosynthesis.

Methodology
Hundred circular leaf disks of Brassica oleracea were obtained by using a sharp knife blade
avoiding their veinsr.150 ml of sodium bicarbonate solution was added to a 500 ml
beaker.similar volume of water was added to a second container.Atleast 30 leaf disks were
introduced to the beaker with water and remaining 70 leaf disks were placed in the flask of
sodium bicarbonate solution.70 leaf disks were inserted to a syringe then plunger was pulled
from the syringe and bicarbonate solution was filled by keeping a finger over the nozzle.plunger
was replaced and the syringe was inverted,plunger was pushed gently to expel any air.Finger was
kept over the syringe tip and plunger was pulled to create a vaccum.this action was repeated until
all disks have sink.six containers were filled with bicarbonate solution and three containers were
filled with distilled water.10 leaf disks were placed from the water flask into each water
container and 10 leaf disks from the bicarbonate flask was placed into each bicarbonate
container.Three bicarbonate containers and three water filled containers were placed on a tray.
Remaining three bicarbonate containers were wrapped to exclude light and they were placed
with the other six containers . disks were left undisturbed for at least 20 minutes outside the
laboratory in.
Results
Figure 1 shows the average of the results. 80% of leaf disks floated in the presence of Light and
Carbon dioxide while 3.74% of leaf disks floated when the limiting factor is Carbon
dioxide.Only 0.471% leaf disks floated when the limiting factor is light.
100
80
60
Percenages of photosynthesis
40
20
0

1
1

2
2

3
3

Treatments

Figure 1:average percentage of floated leaf disks.(treatment 1-average when presence of light
and sodium CO2,treatment 2-average when limiting factor is CO 2,treatment 3- average when
limiting factor is light)

Discussion
This experiment has shown that the photosynthesis cannot occur in the absence of light and
Carbon dioxide.Here sodium bicarbonate supplied necessary carbon dioxide, and light was
controlled by wrapping the containers in foils.production of oxygen used as the indicator of
photosynthesis.Leaf disks floated when they undergo photosynthesis process. Disks sink in the
syringe,when the air from within the leaf tissue pulled and replaced it with solution(either water
or sodium bicarbonate)

According to our result, the number of leaf disks floated was higher in uncovered beaker with
sodium bicarbonate.Because the leaf disks acquire optimal amount of light and Carbon
dioxide.That amount was 80%. When amount of carbon dioxide is limited,the amount of floated
leaf disks was dropped to 3.74%,it is because of the absence of carbon dioxide.The amount of
floted leaf disks dropped to 0.47% when the limiting factor was light because the light is the
urgency factor for photosynthesis.
Conclusion
Light and carbondioxide are necessary factors for the photosynthesis