The Control of

Photosynthesis
Chapter 2.10

(pages 44-45)
 01 Understand that photosynthesis is
affected by many factors

02 Appreciate that photosynthesis is

affected most by the factor in that has the
Objectives least supply

03 Understanding limiting factors that can

be used to efficiently grow greenhouse
crops
 Requirements of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis has certain requirements before it can

happen
1. UV light (sunlight or artificial UV light)
2. Presence of pigment to absorb the light (chlorophyll)
3. CO2 and H2O
4. Suitable temperature for enzyme activity (25ºC)
 01

02

04
03

03 04
Requirements of
Photosynthesis
If certain factors (CO2, temperature, light) are in short supply,
the rate of photosynthesis will be less than maximum rate.

Short supplies of factors cause a bottleneck reaction

bottleneck reactions are because of the limiting factor (so the
factor that is the least).

limiting factors control the rate of photosynthesis

The limiting factor can change at different times and in different

conditions.
Limiting Factors
Maximum photosynthesis →

↑
Temperature is limiting factor
Enzymes work less quickly at low temperature

← CO2 is limiting factor

Low levels of CO2

Substrate = (CO2)
Spring and early summer has ideal temperature and light, thus this
is ideal for photosynthesis however, CO2 may be the limiting
factor.
During the night, light is the limiting factor because there is no
Limiting
sun.
Photosynthesis in plants will slow down in winter, because of Factors
temperature (limiting factor) even though it may be sunny.
Water is rarely a limiting factor (for photosynthesis) because there
are other physiological factors that depend on water. The plant
usually dies from the halting of other physiological processes
before it effects photosynthesis.
What about
Cacti?

Cacti have adapted to grow spines instead of leaves to prevent water loss

Cacti use their stem to do photosynthesis because they have better access to
the sun

Cacti will ‘hold their breath until night’ open their stomata and absorb CO 2

Once they absorb the CO2, they wait until the morning to do the
photosynthesis, this is CAM photosynthesis.
Controlling the Limiting
Factors

Photosynthesis cannot be controlled in a open field, however in a greenhouse, it can

be controlled.
The factors affecting photosynthesis can be controlled, so that we can get maximum
yield from crops.
Greenhouse growers use strains of plants that have high yields, control pests and
use automatic systems that will prevent limiting factors.
Our Success
Photosynthesis and
the Environment
2.1
Page 46-47

1
Objectives To understand that plants both
photosynthesis and respire 01

Understand that these processes affect the

composition of the atmosphere 02

To appreciate that photosynthesis plays an

important role in the carbon cycle 03
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the environment and releases oxygen
(which is the opposite of the exchange of gases in respiration for
humans)

Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

Green plants both photosynthesis and respire

If photosynthesis > respiration (during the day) plants will

remove CO2 and add O2

If photosynthesis < respiration (during the night) plants will

remove O2 and add CO2
Demonstrating Gas
Exchange
• We can use hydrogen-carbonate indicator.

• CO2 produces carbonic acid which is a weak acid.

• Hydrogencarbonate indicator is sensitive to the changes in pH caused by the production of

CO2

• In the dark, the rate of respiration > the rate of photosynthesis and the plant lives off the sugar
they’ve manufactured during other periods of photosynthesis

• As the light intensity increases during the day, there is a point in which

rate of respiration = rate of photosynthesis

Compensation
Point

The compensation point is when there is rates of respiration = rate of photosynthesis

There is not net uptake or loss of CO2 or O2

The glucose being consumed by respiration is exactly being balanced by the glucose being
produced by photosynthesis (e.g. if 6 glucose molecules are being consumed, 6 are also being
made at the same time so there is no uptake or loss)

Beyond the compensation point, the plant will begin to gain glucose when photosynthesis >
respiration
Products of
Photosynthesis
• Plants manufacture all of their foods from glucose made in
photosynthesis.
• Products made by the plant are available for the plant to use, and by
organism that eat the plants.
• Organisms that eat plants will use it for energy through respiration.
• Organisms that eat plants release CO2 that plants can be used as a
substrate.
Carbon Cycle