Factor Affecting The rate

of photosynthesis

Introduction Of
Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a series
of enzyme-controlled
reactions which allow
green plants to make their
Process of
photosynthesis
Factors necessary for photosynthesis
Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
The effect of light intensity The main external factors affecting
on photosynthetic rate the rate of photosynthesis are:
The rate is limited by another

Light
factor such as carbon dioxide
concentration
carbon dioxide
intensity
limiting.
light intensity
Increasing light intensity increases the energy
entering chlorophyll and thus the amount of ATP temperature
and produced to drive photosynthesis

light wavelength
light intensity

Notice how increasing the light intensity

beyond a certain point causes no further The effect of
temperature on
increase in rate of photosynthesis.

Rate of photosynthesis
photosynthetic Optimum
Something else is now ‘holding the reaction rate
back’. Light is no longer the limiting factor.
Enzyme protein
Heat energy increases denatures. They lose
kinetic energy. More their catalytic ability to
collisions, with more force, catalyse
Photosynthetic sugar production is catalysed by thus the rate increases photosynthesis

enzymes. If the temperature is raised too high

the enzymes denature and photosynthesis stops.
temperature (degrees C)
Factors necessary for photosynthesis
Limiting factors
The effect of temperature At low light intensities increasing the temperature has little
and light effect on the rate of photosynthesis.
Rate of photosynthesis

At high light intensities the rate of photosynthesis increases

much more rapidly over the same temperature range.
High light intensity
This is an example of the law of limiting factors.
THE LAW OF LIMITING FACTORS If a
process is influenced by more than 1
factor, the rate will be limited by the
Low light intensity
factor nearest its lowest value

0 5 10 15 20 25
temperature (degrees C)
25O C and 0.4% CO2

Rate of photosynthesis
Here is another example of
the law of limiting factors

What 3 factors are limiting in regions A, B, C 25O C and 0.04% CO2

respectively? C A

ANSWERS: At A CO2 limiting B

15O C and 0.04% CO2
At B temperature limiting
At C light limiting
Light intensity
Plant mineral requirements

Plants require small quantities of minerals for healthy growth

Minerals are absorbed by the root hairs, either by diffusion or active

transport, depending on their concentration in the soil – see next topic.

The most important minerals for plants are:

Nitrogen usually as nitrate, nitrite or ammonium ions, NO3- , NO2-, NH4+

Phosphorous often in the form of phosphate ions, PO4- ions.

Potassium in the form of K+ ions.

Magnesium in the form of Mg2+ ions

Iron in the form of Fe2+ ions

Mineral requirements of plants
NO3 - K+ PO4-

Nitrogen (nitrate ions: Needed Potassium: Helps enzymes in Phosphorous: Required for
to make proteins and photosynthesis and respiration photosynthesis and respiration
chlorophyll
Deficiency: Poor growth and Deficiency: Yellow leaves with Deficiency: Poor root growth
leaf yellowing dead spots and purple younger leaves

Mg+ Fe2+
REMEMBER
THESE ARE
REQUIRED
IN IONIC
Magnesium is required as part Iron is required by the
FORM! of the chlorophyll molecule enzymes that make chlorophyll

Deficiency: Yellowing of Deficiency: Leaf yellowing

leaves and poor growth
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW AT THE END
OF THIS UNIT
The photosynthesis word equation. That light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll in
chloroplasts and used to make sugar from carbon dioxide. Oxygen is a bye-product.
The rate of photosynthesis may by limited by: low temperature, shortage of carbon
dioxide, shortage of light.

The glucose produced in photosynthesis may be converted to insoluble starch. Start does
not attract water by osmosis.
Plant cells use some of the photosynthetic glucose for respiration. In addition, nitrates,
absorbed by the roots, are needed for healthy growth.
Any 1 of light, temperature and carbon dioxide will be limiting the rate of photosynthesis at
any particular time.
The energy from respiration is used to build smaller molecules into larger ones, including:
sugars into starch, sugars into cellulose for cell walls, sugars, nitrates and other nutrients
into amino acids and then proteins. Sugars into lipids for seed storage.
For healthy growth plants need mineral ions including: nitrate for protein synthesis,
phosphate and potassium for photosynthesis and respiration.
Symptoms shown by mineral ion-deficient plants include:
Stunted growth and yellow older leaves if nitrate ions are deficient
Poor root growth and purple younger leaves if phosphate ions are deficient
Yellow leaves with dead spots if potassium ions are deficient.