Kennan chafikana

Photosynthesis is the fundamental process by which plants manufacture food

molecules (carbohydrates) from raw materials
(CO2 and H2O) using energy from light. During this reaction, carbon
dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. The reaction requires energy in the
form of sunlight, and chlorophyll must also be present.

The process of photosynthesis in plants involves a series of steps and reactions that use solar energy,
water, and carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds and oxygen. There are two main sets of
reactions: energy-transduction reactions (commonly called light reactions) and carbon-fixation reactions
(commonly called dark reactions).Chloroplasts containing chlorophyll are responsible for trapping light
energy. This energy is converted to chemical energy for the formation of carbohydrates (glucose); Glucose
is usually changed to sucrose for transport around the plant, or to starch for storage; Oxygen is released
as a waste product, or used by the plant for respiration. Chlorophyll is required because it helps absorb
the "light" need for photosynthesis.
CO2 is important because it is converted into the sugars such as glucose we need.
Light is important because it acts as the "fuel" or energy to drive the reaction.

Chlorophyll is required for photosynthesis as it provides the site for photosynthesis, this is why animals
and organisms without chloroplasts do not photosynthesis.
Light is the energy which drives the reaction.
And carbon dioxide is converted (through a complex system) into sugars such as glucose, fructose and
sucrose.

Controls: Temperature, Oxygen Levels

The more light the faster photosynthesis occurs. As light intensity is increased further, however, the rate
of photosynthesis is eventually limited by some other factor (carbon dioxide). So the rate plateaus. The
point when maximum rate of photosynthesis occurs. The rate of photosynthesis starts to decrease at
higher temperature because the enzymes in the chloroplasts denatured. Light intensity is one of the
factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis. Other factors are concentration of carbon dioxide,
temperature and to a lesser degree, water. Light intensity directly affects the light-dependent reaction in
photosynthesis and indirectly affects the light-independent reaction.

Medium Temperatures
At medium temperatures, between 50 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 and 20 degrees Celsius, the
photosynthetic enzymes work at their optimum levels, so photosynthesis rates gauge high. Depending on
the particular plant in question, set the greenhouse thermostat to a temperature within this range for
best results. At these optimum temperatures, the limiting factor becomes the diffusion of carbon dioxide
into the leaves.

High Temperatures

At temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20 degrees Celsius, the rate of photosynthesis

decreases because the enzymes do not work as efficiently at this temperature. This is despite the increase
of carbon dioxide diffusion into leaves. At a temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit – 40 degrees
Celsius – the enzymes that carry out photosynthesis lose their shape and functionality, and the
photosynthetic rate declines rapidly. The graph of photosynthetic rate versus temperature presents a
curved appearance with the peak rate occurring close to room temperature. A greenhouse or garden that
provides optimum light and water, but gets too hot, produces less vigorously.

Chloroplasts are the food producers of the cell. The organelles are only found
in plant cells and some protists such as algae. Chloroplasts work to convert light
energy of the Sun into sugars that can be used by cells. The entire process is called
photosynthesis and it all depends on the little green chlorophyll molecules in each
chloroplast.

A cuticle is a thin film covering the surface of plants and derived from the outer
surfaces of epidermal cells. Cuticles are the outer protective and supportive layer of
the epidermis of a plant.

guard cell is an epidermal cell that can open the stomata to take in or release
oxygen, carbon dioxide and water, consequently enabling these molecules to travel
through the stomata. Guard cells are shaped like kidneys or sausages and the
walls normally vary in rigidity.

Stomata are microscopic pores found on the epidermis of plants. Though most
stomata are found on leaves, they can be found on all aboveground parts of a plant.
These pores allow the exchange of gases between the outside environment and the
air canals within a plant. These pores play a critical role in the process of
photosynthesis, and can open and close as a response to environmental condition.

Lower Epidermis: A protective layer of cells. The lower epidermis produces a waxy
cuticle too in some plant species. The lower epidermis contains pores called stomata
that allow carbon dioxide and oxygen to move in and out of the plant respectively.

Upper Epidermis: A protective layer of cells that produces the cuticle. The
epidermis is is also transparent and very thin to allow maximum light penetration.
The mesophyll is a soft spongy material located between the upper and lower
epidermal surfaces, and is where photosynthesis takes place. It also contains the
chloroplasts that give leaves their glossy green appearance.

The palisade mesophyll (sometimes called palisade parenchyma) and the

spongy mesophyll. Most photosynthesis takes place in the palisade mesophyll,
which is conveniently located at the top of the leaf just under the epidermis.

Vascular bundles contain xylem and phloem. Xylem conducts water and mineral salts
from the roots to the leaves. Phloem tissues translocate manufactured food, soluble
and organic products of photosynthesis from the leaves to the growing regions/ rest
of the plants.

Xylem comes from the Greek word xylon, which translates to “wood.”

Xylem is still located throughout the rest of the plant.

The main function of xylem in most vascular plants is the upward transport of water
and minerals from the root systems. Any substance transported by xylem has
unidirectional movement meaning that it can only travel in one direction: upwards.
Because of this, the xylem does not carry any substances back to the roots.

A vascular plant is any one of a number of plants with specialized vascular tissue. The two types
of vascular tissue, xylem and phloem, are responsible for moving water, minerals, and the products of
photosynthesis throughout the plant.
Nitrate ions: To make amino acids which are used to make proteins

Magnesium ions: are absorbed by plants and used to make chlorophyll

Magnesium
- Helps make chlorophyll.
- A deficiency of magnesium will affect photosynthesis and leaves turn white

Nitrates
- Used to make proteins
- Deficiency leads to a small plant and yellow leaves