NUTRITION IN PLANTS

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
•CONCEPT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
•CHEMICAL EQUATION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• STAGES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
LIGHT STAGE
DARK STAGE
• MATERIALS AND CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE
PROCESS
• EVIDENCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
CONCEPT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• Photosynthesis is the fundamental process by which

plants manufacture simple sugars from raw
materials.
• Photosynthesis is the process in which light energy,
trapped by chlorophyll, is used to convert carbon
dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
 A tree is planted in a FIELD. After 20 years it has grown
into a big tree, weighing 250kg more than when it was
planted.
 Where do the extra 250kg come from?
 Explain your answer as fully as you can
CHEMICAL EQUATION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Word equation

Light energy
Carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
chlorophyll

Balanced Symbol Equation

Light energy
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
chlorophyll
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
 Plants are the only photosynthetic organisms
to have leaves (and not all plants have
leaves). A leaf may be viewed as a solar
collector crammed full of photosynthetic
cells. The raw materials of photosynthesis,
water and carbon dioxide, enter the cells of
the leaf, and the products of photosynthesis,
sugar and oxygen, leave the leaf.
The Internal Structure Of The Leaf
Functions

Structure Function
Waxy cuticle Prevents water loss from the leaf

Upper epidermis Transparent, Allows light to travel to cells within

the leaf

Palisade mesophyll Cells tightly packed together, Main region of

photosynthesis, Cells packed with chloroplasts

Spongy mesophyll Cells spherical and loosely packed, air spaces

between cells allow for gas exchange

Vascular bundle Contains the xylem (transports water and minerals

to the leaf) and phloem (translocation)

Lower epidermis Acts as a protective layer

stomata Regulates water loss (transpiration)

Site of gaseous exchange in the leaf
THE STOMA
The Structure Of The Chloroplast And
Photosynthetic Membranes

 The thylakoid is the structural unit of photosynthesis.

Both photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes have
these flattened sacs/vesicles containing photosynthetic
chemicals. Only eukaryotes have chloroplasts with a
surrounding membrane. Thylakoids are stacked like
pancakes in stacks known collectively as grana. The
areas between grana are referred to as stroma. While
the mitochondrion has two membrane systems, the
chloroplast has three, forming three compartments.
The Structure Of The Chloroplast And
Photosynthetic Membranes
 Stages Of Photosynthesis
 Photosynthesis is a two stage process.
 The first process is the Light Dependent Process (Light
Reactions), requires the direct energy of light to make energy
carrier molecules that are used in the second process.
 The Light Independent Process (or Dark Reactions) occurs
when the products of the Light Reaction are used to form C-C
covalent bonds of carbohydrates. The Dark Reactions can
usually occur in the dark, if the energy carriers from the light
process are present. Recent evidence suggests that a major
enzyme of the Dark Reaction is indirectly stimulated by light,
thus the term Dark Reaction is somewhat of a misnomer.
 The Light Reactions occur in the grana and the Dark
Reactions take place in the stroma of the chloroplasts.
 Light Reactions
 This happens in the grana.
 It involves electrons (electricity) so reactions happen very quickly. 
1.  Light is absorbed. Light is made up of 7 colours. 
Plants absorb all colours of light except green.
2. Light energy is transferred to electrons.
Pigments are arranged in clusters with a 
chlorophyll and an electron acceptor.
Different pigments absorb different colours 
and pass the electrons to the chlorophyll that 
has the electron acceptor attached. The electrons 
get more energy and become high­energy 
electrons. From here the electrons can go down 
either of 2 pathways.
Light Reactions

  Electron flow ­ Pathway 1.
 In pathway 1
  the high­energy electrons move from the electron 
acceptor to other electron acceptors. They travel in a ci
rcle and  back to where they started.
As they move they lose energy and this energy
 forms ATP. ATP stores energy.
 Because the light is involved, a Phosphate is added to t
he ADP and the  electrons move in a circle
 this is called Cyclic Photophosphorylation  or
 Cyclic electron flow.
Light Reactions
 Electron flow ­
 Pathway 1
 Light Reactions
  Electron flow ­ Pathway 2. In pathway 2 two high­
energy electrons move from the electron acceptor 
to other electron acceptors. They don't travel in a circle.
As they move they lose energy and this energy forms ATP
.
Eventually the 2 electrons join to NADP+ and make NAD
P­.
The H+ from the storage pool is now used and stuck to th
e NADP­ to form  NADPH. This is also called Non­
Cyclic Photophosphorylation or Non  Cyclic electron flow.
 At the end of this pathway ATP and NADPH
have been made. Both of these carry energy 
into the Dark Stage to make Glucose
Light Reactions
Electron flow ­
 Pathway 2.
End products of the Light St
age
 NADPH, ATP and Oxygen are the end product
s of the Light Stage.
 ATP ­ 
   will provide energy for reactions in the Dark 
Stage.
 NADPH ­  will also provide energy but also the 
H12 for Glucose.
 Oxygen ­  is made from the split water and rele
ased from the leaf    or recycled in Respiration.
The Dark Stage

 This happens in the stroma. 
It involves enzymes so reactions happen slowly. 
The energy carriers (ATP and NADPH) enter the Dark stag
e. They are broken up to release their energy.
 Carbon Dioxide enters the leaf through the pores (stomat
a).
The Calvin Cycle uses the CO2 and mixes it with the H fro
m the NADPH.
This happens again and again till C6H12O6 (Glucose) is m
ade.
The glucose is then stored as starch for later use in Respir
ation.
The Dark Stage
Light and dark stages of photosynthesis
compared
Mineral
Limiting Factors

 The factors which if increased will increase

the rate of photosynthesis.

 The process of photosynthesis depends on:

 Availability of light
 Presence of a pigment to absorb the light
 Supply of carbon dioxide and water
 A temperature suitable for enzyme activity
Limiting factors

 If any of these factors are in short supply the

rate of photosynthesis will be less then its
maximum possible rate
 The factor furthest from it’s optimum level is
controlling the overall rate of photosynthesis!
Optimum conditions in greenhouse systems

 Greenhouses are used to control the

conditions for plant growth
 The atmospheric conditions can be controlled
and the glass traps heat inside
Carbon dioxide enrichment

 0.04% carbon dioxide in the air, so it can

easily limit the rate of photosynthesis
 Carbon dioxide concentration in a
greenhouse can be increased by:
 Burning fossil fuels
 Releasing pure carbon dioxide from a gas cylinder
Optimum light and
temperature
 Optimum light
 Light conditions for growth can be improved by
using artificial lights

 Optimum temperature
 Can be raised by using a heating system
Nitrate ions

 Importance  Deficiency
 Needed for synthesising  Plant growth is stunted
amino acids  Weak stem
 Amino acids form long  Yellow, dying lower
chains to make proteins leaves
 Upper leaves turn pale
green
Magnesium ions

 Importance  Deficiency
 Forms part of  Chlorosis
chlorophyll molecules  Leaves turn yellow
 Plants need chlorophyll  Lack of photosynthesis
to trap light to provide limits plant growth
energy for
photosynthesis
Nitrogen fertilisers

 Nitrogen fertilisers can be used

 To increase crop yields
 To replace the nitrate ions removed by intensive
farming

 Nitrate can also be replaced by

 Applying animal manure
 Crop rotation
 Grow leguminous plants in the field every 2/3 years
Dangers of overuse of
fertilisers
 Too much nitrogen fertiliser can cause plant
roots to lose water by osmosis
 The plant wilts and dies

 Eutrophication
 Fertilisers are soluble in rainwater and are washed
out of the soil
 This is known as leaching
Eutrophication
Stages of Eutrophication

 Fertilisers used by farmers may be washed into lakes and

rivers
 Rapid growth of water plants cause by the fertilisers
 Death of some of these plants due to lack of light from
overcrowding
 Microbes which feed on the dead organisms now
increase in number
 Oxygen is used up quickly by the microbes
 Suffocation of fish and other aquatic animals due to the
lack of oxygen in the water.
Progress Question –
difficult one
3. A farmer spreads a nitrate-rich fertiliser over
his fields. Each time he does this, he washes
out his spreading equipment in a farm pond.

Suggest and explain what the likely effects

of such pollution will be on the plants and
animals in the pond. [5]
THANK YOU

 THANK YOU