the Sun
During the process of photosynthesis, cells use carbon dioxide and energy from the Sun to make sugar molecules and oxygen. These sugar molecules are the basis for more complex molecules made by the photosynthetic cell, such as glucose.

What is oxygen used for in photosynthesis?

In photosynthesis, solar energy is harvested as chemical energy in a process that converts water and carbon dioxide to glucose. Oxygen is released as a byproduct. In cellular respiration, oxygen is used to break down glucose, releasing chemical energy and heat in the process.

How does chlorophyll absorb light?

In photosynthesis, electrons are transferred from water to carbon dioxide in a reduction process. Chlorophyll assists in this process by trapping solar energy. When chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight, an electron in the chlorophyll molecule is excited from a lower to a higher energy state.

What do photosynthetic response curves show?

Light response curves (LRCs) describe how the rate of photosynthesis varies as a function of light. They provide information on the maximum photosynthetic capacity, quantum yield, light compensation point and leaf radiation use efficiency of leaves.

What is C4 and CAM?

The main difference between C4 and CAM plants is the way they minimize water loss. C4 plants relocate the CO2 molecules to minimize photorespiration while CAM plants choose when to extract CO2 from the environment. C4 plants are typically summer plants like corn and sugar cane.

What is the light response curve model used for?

The light response curve model (Ögren and Evans 1993) was used for the calculation of A max . These parameters were measured at a leaf temperature of 25 °C and VPD of 0.8-1.5 kPa, respectively. Key message Seasonal variations in the leaf photosynthetic traits of an urban tree, Ginkgo biloba, were almost synchronized with the photoperiod.

What does the net photosynthetic light-response curve tell us?

Introduction The net photosynthetic light-response curve (PN/I curve) describes the net CO2 assimilation by a plant leaf (PN) as a function of an increase in the photosynthetic photon flux density (I) from the total absence of light to a high level of light, e.g. 2,000 µmol(photon) m–2 s–1.

How is the light-response curve truncated by a RuBisCO limitation?

The light-response curve is truncated by the transition to a Rubisco limitation and the lower the irradiance at the transition, the higher the value of . There is a gradient in light absorption through the leaf which influences the photosynthetic capacity of different layers within the leaf.

What is rapid light curve (RLC)?

A typical Rapid Light Curve (or RLC) is derived from a rapid (e.g. 90 second) light treatment applied to a photosynthetic sample (leaf, thallus, culture).