BIF03

FOUNDATION BIOLOGY B

THE MAINTENANCE OF LIFE

SATELLITE TUTORIAL # 3
 WEEK 3
PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PLANT
STRUCTURE

TOPICS:
• Light reactions in photosynthesis
• Calvin cycle
• C4 and CAM plants
• Plant cells and tissues
• Primary and secondary growth
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Using
Light to make Food

Reduction Reaction:

Reduction
6CO2 + 12H2O C6H12O6 + 6H20 + 6O2
Oxidation
OVERVIEW: PHOTOSYNTHESIS
 LIGHT REACTIONS
PHOTOSYSTEM – capture solar power & composed of
pigment molecules of antenna, reaction centre and
primary electron acceptor.

Photosystem II - Reaction centre chlorophyll is called

P680 as it best absorbs wavelength 680nm, orange shade
of red.

Electron Transport Chain - generates ATP, NADPH and O2

Photosystem I - Chlorophyll a of the reaction centre is

called P700 since it absorbs light of wavelength 700nm,
red light.
 CALVIN CYCLE
Step 1 – Carbon fixation
Step 2 – Energy consumption and redox
Step 3 – Release of one molecule of G3P
Step 4 – Regeneration of RuBP

To synthesize one glucose molecule, the

Calvin Cycle uses 6 molecules of CO2, 18
molecules of ATP and 12 molecules of
NADPH
 Photorespiration

Under high light and high heat, the

enzyme (RUBISCO) that grabs
carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
may grab oxygen instead, causing
respiration to occur instead of
photosynthesis, thus causing a
slowing of the production of sugars
from photosynthesis
 C3 Plants

• Called C3 because the CO2 is first

incorporated into a 3-carbon
compound.
• Stomata are open during the day.
• RUBISCO, the enzyme involved in
photosynthesis, is also the enzyme
involved in the uptake of CO2.
• Photosynthesis takes place throughout
the leaf.
 C3 Plants

• Adaptive Value: more efficient than

C4 and CAM plants under cool and
moist conditions and under normal
light because requires less
machinery (fewer enzymes and no
specialized anatomy)
• Most plants are C3.
 C4 Plants
• Called C4 because CO2 is first
incorporated into a 4-carbon compound.
• Stomata are open during the day.
• Uses PEP Carboxylase for the enzyme
involved in the uptake of CO2. This
enzyme allows CO2 to be taken into the
plant very quickly, and then it "delivers"
the CO2 directly to RUBISCO for
photosynthesis.
 C4 Plants

• Photosynthesis takes place in inner

cells (requires special anatomy called
Kranz Anatomy)

• Example: fourwing saltbush, corn, and

many of summer annual plants.
 C4 PLANTS

o The 4-C compound acts as a carbon

shuttle it donates the CO2 to the Calvin
cycle in a nearby cell, which keeps making
sugars even though the plant’s stomata are
closed most of the time.
 C4 Plants
Adaptive Value:
• Photosynthesizes faster than C3 plants under
high light intensity and high temperatures
because the CO2 is delivered directly to
RUBISCO, not allowing it to grab oxygen and
undergo photorespiration.
• Has better Water Use Efficiency because PEP
Carboxylase brings in CO2 faster and so does
not need to keep stomata open as much (less
water lost by transpiration) for the same
amount of CO2 gain for photosynthesis.
 Crassulacean Acid Metabolism -
CAM Plants

• CalledCAM after the plant family in

which it was first found
(Crassulaceae)
•CO2 is stored in the form of an acid
before use in photosynthesis.
• Stomata open at night (when
evaporation rates are usually lower)
and are usually closed during the
day.
 Crassulacean Acid Metabolism -
CAM Plants

• CO is converted to an acid and

2
stored during the night.
• During the day, the acid is broken
down and the CO2 is released to
RUBISCO for photosynthesis
• Example: succulents such as
cactuses and also some orchids.
 Crassulacean Acid Metabolism -
CAM Plants

Adaptive Value:
Better Water Use Efficiency than C3
plants under arid conditions due to
opening stomata at night when
transpiration rates are lower (no
sunlight, lower temperatures, lower
wind speeds, etc.).
 Crassulacean Acid Metabolism -
CAM Plants

CAM-idle - When conditions are extremely arid,

CAM plants leave their stomata closed night
and day.
•Oxygen given off in photosynthesis is used for
respiration.
•CO2 given off in respiration is used for
photosynthesis.
•Allows plant to survive dry spells and recover
very quickly when water is available again.
 C3

O2 Calvin Cycle 2-C compound

CO2 + H2O
 C4

CO2 4-C compound CO2

Calvin Cycle 3-C sugar

 CAM Plants

CO2 4-C compound CO2

Calvin Cycle 3-C sugar

Night Day
 ANGIOSPERM CELLS
• Parenchyma – have a thin primary wall
- food storage,
photosynthesis, aerobic
respiration
• Collenchyma – have a thick primary wall
- provides support (growing),
• Sclerenchyma – has fibers and sclereids
- provides support (hardens
wood/nut shells & seed coats)
 ANGIOSPERM CELLS
• Water-conducting – has tracheids
and vessel elements
- conveys water from roots
to stems and leaves
• Food-conducting – has sieve plates
and companion cells
- conducts sugars, other
compounds and some mineral
ions
XYLEM
PHLOEM
 ANGIOSPERM TISSUES

• Epidermis – covers and protects

leaves, young stems and roots
• Ground Tissue System –
photosynthesis, storage and support
• Vascular Tissue System – xylem
(water) and phloem (nutrients)
Plant Tissues
 ANGIOSPERM PRIMARY GROWTH

• Length-wise growth produced by apical

meristems.

• Apical meristems - found in terminal

buds, axillary buds and root tips
Primary Growth
 ANGIOSPERM SECONDARY
GROWTH

• An increase in a plant’s girth

• Meristems:

• 1. Vascular cambium – between

primary/secondary xylem and phloem

• 2. Cork cambium – after secondary phloem,

produces cork and makes part of bark
Secondary Growth