Understanding of light reactions and Calvin Cycle to mitigate

the effects of climate change.

The Calvin cycle consists of three stages. Stage 1 is the fixation of carbon by the carboxylation of
ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate. Stage 2 is the reduction of the fixed carbon to begin the synthesis of
hexose. Stage 3 is the regeneration of the starting compound, ribulose 1, 5 -bisphosphate.
1. The fixation of CO2 by ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate to form two molecules of 3-
phosphoglycerate.
2. The reduction of 3-phosphoglycerate to form hexose sugars.
3. The regeneration of ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate so that more CO2 can be fixed.
Although we will focus on the Calvin cycle, other means of fixing carbon dioxide into hexose sugars
exist in the photosynthetic world, notably a version of the citric acid cycle running in reverse.

Figure 1

The Activity of the Calvin Cycle Depends on Environmental Conditions

Carbon dioxide assimilation by the Calvin cycle operates during the day, whereas carbohydrate
degradation to yield energy takes place primarily at night. How synthesis and degradation are
coordinately controlled? The light reactions lead to changes in the stroma—namely, an increase in pH
and in Mg2+, NADPH, and reduced ferredoxin concentration—all of which contribute to the activation of
certain Calvin cycle enzymes (Figure 2).Light Regulation of the Calvin Cycle
The light reactions of photosynthesis transfer electrons out of the thylakoid lumen into the stroma and
they transfer protons from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen. As a consequence of these processes,
the concentrations of NADPH, reduced ferredoxin (Fd), and Mg2+ in the stroma are higher in the light
than in the dark, whereas the concentration of H+ is lower in the dark. Each of these concentration
changes helps couple the Calvin cycle reactions to the light reactions.
Ref: (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22376/)

Figure 2
Summary:
Calvin cycle: the reactions of photosynthesis that use the energy stored by the
light-dependent reactions to form glucose and other carbohydrate molecules
Carbon fixation: the process of converting inorganic CO2 gas into organic
compounds
Using the energy carriers formed in the first stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin
cycle reactions fix CO2 from the environment to build carbohydrate molecules.
An enzyme, RuBisCO, catalyzes the fixation reaction, by combining CO2 with
RuBP. The resulting six-carbon compound is broken down into two three-carbon
compounds, and the energy in ATP and NADPH is used to convert these
molecules into G3P. One of the three-carbon molecules of G3P leaves the cycle
to become a part of a carbohydrate molecule. The remaining G3P molecules stay
in the cycle to be formed back into RuBP, which is ready to react with more CO2.
Photosynthesis forms a balanced energy cycle with the process of cellular
respiration. Plants are capable of both photosynthesis and cellular respiration,
since they contain both chloroplasts and mitochondria.
How to mitigate the effects of climate change?
Photo: (https://climate.nasa.gov/)
Climate change is one of the biggest environmental
challenges affecting humanity today, causing a
dangerous rise in sea levels and disturbances to the
water cycle and leading to more frequent extreme
weather events. The IAEA helps Member States
combat climate change on a variety of fronts:
mitigating the production and release of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) and monitoring and adapting to their
negative effects.
“Dealing with the effects of climate change is not just
one country’s problem — it’s the problem of the entire
planet,” said Martin Krause, Director at the IAEA’s
Department of Technical Cooperation.

Adaptation
Some of the most acute effects of climatic changes are global increases in water scarcity and
food shortages, the loss of biodiversity and more frequent climate-induced natural
disasters.
To help communities and countries adapt, the IAEA supports activities in plant breeding, soil and
crop management, livestock production and insect pest control. Activities include breeding
new plant varieties that are drought and heat tolerant; setting up and optimizing irrigation
systems that save water and fertilizer as well as improving crop yields; and combating
disease-carrying insects with a nuclear-based insect pest control method called the sterile
insect technique (SIT).

Monitoring
As the international community
works towards long term
solutions to the consequences of
climate change, reliable data on
how GHGs cause the changes
occurring on land, in the oceans
and throughout the atmosphere
are critical. The IAEA uses a
variety of nuclear techniques,
primarily isotopic, to identify and
monitor the risks and threats
associated with GHG emissions,
and then shares that data with
Member States to help further
research and the formulation of
sustainable climate policies.

Mitigation
Mitigating climate change is the long term goal, which requires approaches and technology
that will reduce GHG emissions. The IAEA provides support to Member States to assess the
development of their energy systems and helps them study how nuclear energy could play a
role in energy generation. Through adaptation to and monitoring of the adverse consequences
of climate change and the mitigation of GHG emissions, the IAEA works with its Member
States to preserve and restore the environment and protect energy systems from climate-
related weather events and disasters.
Ref: (https://www.iaea.org/)
How farmers raise plant in greenhouse?
“What is Greenhouse Farming?”: Greenhouse Farming is the process of cultivating crops and
vegetable in a greenhouse ecosystems environment. Cultivation in greenhouses is a practice that has
allowed farmers to increase their performance, while improving the quality of products, isolating them in
micro-ecosystems that have the ideal conditions for plants to grow healthy, strong and beautiful.

Increasing crop yield

When growing crops in an open field, it is difficult for farmers to control the environment except by
providing sufficient water and minerals for the growing plants.

Greenhouses
Greenhouses allow farmers to control the conditions in which their crops are growing. The rate of
photosynthesis can be increased using:
1. artificial heating
2. artificial lighting
3. additional carbon dioxide released into the air inside
4. regular watering
Artificial lighting also allows photosynthesis to continue after daylight hours.
The additional cost of providing extra heating, lighting and carbon dioxide has to be weighed against
the increased crop yield and the extra income it will provide. The cost should not exceed the additional
income it generates for the farmer.
In practice, the farmer will need to find the optimum growing conditions for the crop, given the costs of
providing extra lighting, heat and carbon dioxide.

Polytunnels
Polythene tunnels (polytunnels) protect crops from
the effects of the weather, including wind, rain and
extreme temperatures. They are large enough for
people and machines to work inside and can provide
warmer conditions than if the crops were grown
outside. (Ref: https://www.bbc.co.uk/)
Photos Ref: (https://www.ku.ac.ae/)
Find out how they use light water and other elements to increase growth and
productivity of plants.
Plant growth and geographic distribution are greatly affected by the environment. If any
environmental factor is less than ideal, it limits a plant's growth and/or distribution. In some cases,
poor environmental conditions (e.g., too little water) damage a plant directly. In other cases,
environmental stress weakens a plant and makes it more susceptible to disease or insect attack.
Environmental factors that affect plant growth include light, temperature, water, humidity, and
nutrition.

How Plants Grow?

Many things in nature help to regulate plant growth: sunlight, proper temperature, moisture, air, and
nutrients. These are referred to as environmental factors. Each part of a natural or artificial
environment affects the survival and quality of a plants life. Knowing the basic facts about the way
in which plants live and grow will help you understand plants.
Light: All living things, except for a few groups of bacteria, depend on photosynthesis for their
existence. Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food. In the
presence of light energy, plants manufacture food (mainly sugars), by combining carbon dioxide
and water in the presence of chlorophyll to release oxygen and water.
Proper Temperature: Temperature is the most important environmental factor affecting plant
growth. Plants vary in their temperature needs. The ability of a plant to withstand cold temperatures
is known as hardiness. Plants that cannot tolerate cold weather are known as tender plants.
Water: Water is essential for life. It is one of the most important requirements for plant growth.
Water is the main component of plant cells, it keeps the plant turgid (stiff), it's used in
photosynthesis, and it transports nutrients throughout the plant.
Air: The manufacture of carbohydrates and proteins which a plant needs to live and grow requires
raw materials. These materials are either found naturally in the environment or supplied by the
grower. Plants absorb the raw material carbon dioxide from the surrounding air and use it in
photosynthesis.
Nutrients: Although plants are able to use a few nutrients from the air, most of the nutrients that a
plant needs must be present in the growing medium (soil). Minerals such as nitrogen, potassium,
phosphorous, calcium, and magnesium are taken up through the plant's roots.

Photo Ref: (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/)

Climate change in relation w/ greenhouse plants.