ST.

WILFRIED COLLEGE FOR GIRLS JAIPUR

A SEMINAR REPORTED ON
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
BOTANY DEPARTMENT

Submitted to:Dr.Sapna Gupta

Submitted by:Manisha Yadav

M.SC.(Pre.)
BOTANY
2015-16

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Photosynthesis
-converts sunlight into chemical energy
-very complex
-general reaction:
6CO2 + 6H20 C6H12O6 + 6O2

 Light from the sun is composed of wavelengths

(colors
The shorter the wavelength the higher the
frequency, thus the higher the energy
The longer the wavelength the lower the energy,
thus the lower the energy

Comparison of absorption and

action spectra
Absorption spectrum
for chlorophyll

Action spectrum
for chlorophyll

*Almost no absorption at
green wavelengths

*The photosynthetic rate is

very low at green
wavelengths

Light energy and water

A. In photosynthesis, light energy is used to split
water molecules
B. This process is called photolysis = when a
chemical is broken down by photons
C. Water is split into hydrogen ions, oxygen and
electrons by photons
D. ATP is also produced
E. ATP and H ions will be used to fix CO2 to make
organic molecules
F. Photosynthesis relies on water and sunlight for
its initial reaction

General photosynthesis information

A. There are light dependent and light
independent reactions
B. Light dependent reactions require light
C. Light independent reactions do not
require light or darkness.
-they are independent of light or dark
-DO NOT REFER TO LIGHT
INDEPENDENT REACTIONS AS DARK
REACTIONS (darkness is not required)

B. Chlorophyll organization and light

absorption
1. Chlorophyll is found in the thylakoids which are
found in chloroplasts
2. Within the thylakoids chlorophyll is arranged into
groups called photosystems
3. There are two photosystems:
-Photosystem I best at 700nm (aka P700)
-Photosystem II best at 680 nm (aka P680)

**Both photosystems are identical chlorophyll

a molecules, except that they interact with
different proteins of the thylakoids
6. Excited electrons that have absorbed
photons of light pass from molecule to
molecule until they reach the chlorophyll at
the center of the photosystem
7. The photosystem (the chlorophyll) will then
pass the excited electrons to a chain of
electron carriers

F. Cyclic photophosphorylation
(in the book it is cyclic electron flow)
1. PS II is not involved
2. Produces ATP but not NADPH
3. ATP is made via chemiosmosis (the same way
as non-cyclic photophosphorylation)
4. How it works:
a. PS I absorbs light
b. the excited electrons are given to an electron
acceptor
c. the electrons pass through an ETC to
produce ATP via chemiosmosis
d. At the end of the ETC the electrons go back
to PS I and the process starts again

CALVIN CYCLE

Limiting Factors in Photosynthesis

A. For photosynthesis to occur the following
criteria must be met:
-suitable temperature
-presence of: chlorophyll
light
carbon dioxide
water

B. Changes to one limiting factor will change the

rate of photosynthesis
C. Limiting factors are those that are near their
minimum or maximum level
D. Limiting factors determine the rate-limiting
step
For example: If light intensity is the limiting
factor, the light dependent reaction will
limit the rate of photosynthesis.
The limiting-step will be the reduction
reaction in the Calvin cycle (when the
products of the light dependent stage are
needed)

E. Light as a limiting factor

1. At low light NADPH and ATP are not
produced (b/c they are light-dependent products)
2. If NADPH and ATP are not produced
the Calvin cycle will stop at the reduction
and phosphorylation reactions
Rate of photosynthesis

The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis

Light intensity

*At high intensity photosynthesis plateaus

*Light intensity is directly proportional to
the rate of photosynthesis
*Light is not usually the limiting factor

F. Carbon dioxide as a limiting factor

1. If there is little or no carbon dioxide the
Calvin cycle is limited at carbon fixation
2. RuBP and NADPH will acculmulate
**Carbon dioxide is often a limiting factor
because it is never at a high concentration
in the atmosphere

Rate of photosynthesis

The effect of carbon dioxide on photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide concentration

*There is no photosynthesis when carbon dioxide

is low
*Carbon dioxide and photosynthesis are directly
proportional
*At high carbon dioxide concentrations
photosynthesis plateaus

G. Temperature as a limiting factor

1. At low temperature the enzymes that
catalyze the reactions work slowly
2. At high temperature rubisco is
ineffective (it is denatured)
3. Carbon fixation becomes the ratelimiting step

Rate of photosynthesis

The effect of temperature on photosynthesis

Temperature

*As temperature increases so does the rate of photosynthesis

*After the optimum temperature is surpassed the rate quickly falls