Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany

2.3. TWO PHASES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

1 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

2.3. Two Phases of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a very complex process and for easy understanding it can be

divided in to two phases

1. In the first stage, the Light Dependent Reaction, the chloroplast raps light
energy and converts it into chemical energy contained in Nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide (NADH)  Phosphate (NADPH) and  Adenosine
Triphosphate, these two are used in the second phase of photosynthesis. The
first phase is called Light Reactions or Light Dependent Reactions.

2.  In contrast with the light reactions, the second phase reactions do not directly
depend on the presence of light therefore they are regarded as Light
Independent Reactions. This stage uses energy of ATP and biosynthetic
reducing power of NADPH to reduce carbon atoms from their fully oxidized
state as carbon dioxide to the more reduced state as a hexose (sugars). The
second Phase of Phtosynthesis is called as Light dependent Phase (previously
known as Dark Reactions), Calvin cycle is a major part of this phase.

Figure (1) The purpose of the light reactions is to convert light energy into chemical energy in
the form of ATP & NADPH.ATP & NADPH are energy carriers. They carry energy to the 2nd
part of photosynthesis, known as the dark reactions (More precisely light independent
reaction).

 Photochemical process (Light Dependent Reaction):

4H 2O + 2ADP+2NADP+  O2+2H2O+2ATP+2NADPH +2H+

+2pi

 Biochemical process ILight Independent Reaction)

CO2+9ATP+6NADPH+  triose-P+6NADP+9ADP+8Pi+3H2O
+
6H
Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany
2.3. TWO PHASES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
1 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

6CO 2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2