Plant Nutrition I

Photosynthesis & Limiting Factors

 Lesson Objectives

What are the factors affecting

rate of photosynthesis?
What is a limiting factor?
 Factors Affecting the Rate
of Photosynthesis
light intensity

carbon dioxide concentration

temperature
 Factors Affecting the Rate
of Photosynthesis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPYfe7P_ts
 What is a limiting factor?
When the value of a factor is increased
and the rate of reaction increases, the
factor is limiting the rate of the reaction.

When the value of a factor is increased

but the rate of reaction remain constant,
the factor no longer limits the rate of the
reaction.
 When is a factor limiting
the rate of reaction?
e.g. Increasing the amount
of light a plant receives
cause rate of photosynthesis
to increase.
Light intensity is a limiting
factor.
 When is factor no longer
limiting the rate of a reaction?
e.g. Increasing the amount
of light a plant receives but
rate of photosynthesis to
increase
Light intensity no longer
limits the rate of reaction.
 Light Intensity Vs Rate of
Photosynthesis
Rate of
photosynthesis
0.13% CO2 at 20ºC

0.03% CO2 at 30ºC

0.03% CO2 at 20ºC

Light no longer
limits rate of
photosynthesis

0 A B
Light Intensity
 Light Intensity Vs Rate of
Photosynthesis
Rate of
photosynthesis
0.13% CO2 at 20ºC

0.03% CO2 at 20ºC

0 A B
Light Intensity
 Light Intensity Vs Rate of
Photosynthesis
Rate of
photosynthesis 0.13% CO2 at 30ºC

0.13% CO2 at 20ºC

0 A B
Light Intensity
 Temperature Vs Rate of
Photosynthesis
Rate of
photosynthesis

0 40 60
Temperature ºC
 Rate of photosynthesis at low
temperatures
• At low temperatures, substrate and enzymes
involved in photosynthesis have low kinetic
energy and move slowly.
• There is a low rate of collision between
enzyme and substrate, rate of formation of
enzyme substrate complex is slow.
• Rate of photosynthesis is slow
 Rate of photosynthesis as
temperature increases
• As temperature increases, substrate and
enzymes involved in photosynthesis gain
kinetic energy and move faster.
• There is an increased rate of collision between
enzyme and substrate, rate of formation of
enzyme substrate complex is faster.
• Rate of photosynthesis increases.
 Rate of photosynthesis decreases
at very high temperatures
• As temperature increases beyond the
optimum temperature, the substrate and
enzyme involved in photosynthesis are
becoming denatured and loses its active site.
• It is unable to form enzyme substrate
complex.
• Rate of photosynthesis decreases.
 Summary
• What are the three factors that affect the rate
of photosynthesis?
• What is a limiting factor?
• Describe the graph of the following:
• (i) Rate of photosynthesis vs light intensity,
• (ii) Rate of photosynthesis vs carbon dioxide
concentration
• (iii) Rate of photosynthesis vs temperature