Nutrition

Plants

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Photosynthesis

The process used by algae, plants and certain bacteria to make their own food. Essential for all aerobic life on earth. Uses carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose. Releases oxygen as a waste product.

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Word Equation
carbon dioxide + water
chlorophyll

glucose + oxygen
light

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Chemical Equation
chlorophyll

CO2 + H2O
light

C6H12O6 + O2

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Energy capture

Energy is captured from sunlight by chlorophyll In plants the chlorophyll is found in chloroplasts Some of the energy is stored in a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) Most energy is stored temporarily in glucose molecules

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment Chlorophyll mainly absorbs light energy from the red and ultra-violet wavelengths

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Chloroplasts

These are organelles (structure with a specic job) They have a membrane There are between 10 and 100 chloroplasts in an average cell

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Adenosine triphosphate - ATP

A specialised molecule with many uses. Main use is as an energy transporter for metabolic reactions.

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Photosynthetic Reaction

Energy storage

Energy stored in glucose molecules is shortterm storage. It is immediately available for the plants chemical reactions Unused glucose will be converted into starch Starch is used for long-term storage

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Photosynthetic Reaction
Glucose to starch - energy use and storage

glucose molecule - short-term

starch molecule - long-term

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Photosynthetic Reaction

energy stored in chemical bonds

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Photosynthetic Reaction
Alternative Energy Source
The amount of energy captured by photosynthesis around the world is about 6 times as much as we need. If we could nd a way to mimic photosynthesis efciently we would have virtually FREE electricity.

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Carbon Fixation
Carbon dioxide gets converted into glucose during photosynthesis. This part of the process is known as carbon xation.

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Photosynthetic Efficiency

Conversion of light energy into chemical energy is between 3% and 6% Conversion of light energy into electrical energy by solar panels is between 6% and 20% for massproduced panels. Solar panels are expensive. Production costs must come down and/or efciency must improve to make them competitive with coal, oil and gas.

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Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis

Efciency varies with frequency of light light intensity temperature proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere availability of water

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Frequency of Light
Green plants mainly use the red and blue frequencies during photosynthesis

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Frequency of Light

absorption

400

450

500

550

600

700

750

Wavelength
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Light Intensity

Rate of photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

Rate of photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

Rate of a photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

Rate of a photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

b Rate of a photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

b Rate of a photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - reading values

c b Rate of a photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - interpretation

Rate of photosynthesis

biggest change of rate of photosynthesis Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - interpretation

max. rate of photosynthesis

Rate of photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - interpretation

Rate of photosynthesis

increasing light intensity does NOT affect rate of photosynthesis

Light Intensity

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Light Intensity - interpretation

max. rate of photosynthesis

Rate of photosynthesis

increasing light intensity does NOT affect rate of photosynthesis

biggest change of rate of photosynthesis Light Intensity

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Temperature (high light intensity)

Rate of photosynthesis

Temp

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Temperature (low light intensity)

Rate of photosynthesis

Temp

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Atmospheric CO2 concentration

Rate of photosynthesis

[CO2]

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Water availability
Water has a dramatic effect on photosynthesis. it is essential for the photosynthetic reaction during dry spells plants close their stomata, which limits CO2 intake; CO2 also needed for photosynthesis

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Comparison of Respiration and Photosynthesis

Water has a dramatic on photosynthesis. it is essential for the photosynthetic reaction Carbon dioxide. during dry spells plants close their stomata, which limits CO2 intake; CO2 also needed for photosynthesis

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Comparison of Respiration and Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis Oxygen Oxygen released as waste product Glucose Glucose produced - short-term energy store Glucose converted to starch - long-term energy store

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Comparison of Respiration and Photosynthesis

Respiration (aerobic) uses oxygen to release energy from glucose takes place in plant and animal cells water is produced carbon dioxide is released as a waste product

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Comparison of Respiration and Photosynthesis

Simplied Equations Respiration glucose + oxygen

carbon dioxide + water

Photosynthesis carbon dioxide + water

glucose + oxygen

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Photosynthesis Questions 1
1. During photosynthesis which gas is a waste product? [1] 2. In which organelle is chlorophyll found? [1] 3. Which wavelengths of light are best absorbed by chlorophyll? [2] 4. What molecule is used for long-term energy storage? [1] 5. Where is the energy stored in the molecule in Q4? [1]
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Photosynthesis Questions 1
6. A graph of rate of photosynthesis against light intensity attens out. Interpret the signicance of this. [1] Why does this happen? [1] 7. Why does dry weather affect the uptake of carbon dioxide? [1] 8. When is carbon dioxide released as a waste product? [1] Total marks [10]
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Mineral Requirements for Plants

Plants need 17 specic nutrients for growth. They are classied as macronutrients (large quantities) and micronutrients (small quantities). Carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) are mainly obtained from the air, through the leaves; all others come through the roots.

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Macronutrients
Divided into primary macronutrients and secondary macronutrients. Primary nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) potassium (K)

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Macronutrients
Secondary calcium (Ca) sulphur (S) magnesium (Mg) Silicon (Si) is also a macronutrient

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Micronutrients
These include: boron (B) chlorine (Cl) manganese (Mn) iron (Fe) zinc (Zn) copper (Cu) molybdenum (Mo) sodium (Na)
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Functions of Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N) essential for all proteins deciency leads to slow/stunted growth, chlorosis (pale colour due to lack of chlorophyll) deciency may also be seen as purple colouration on stems and underside of leaves

ayers February 25, 13 Monday,

Functions of Macronutrients
Chlorosis

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Functions of Macronutrients
Chlorosis - interveinal

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Functions of Macronutrients
Nitrogen deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Nitrogen deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Phosphorus (P) needed for ATP during photosynthesis needed for plant growth and ower/seed formation deciency seen as dark green colouration of leaves, or necrosis (decay)

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Functions of Macronutrients
Phosphorus deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Phosphorus deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Potassium (K) controls opening/closing of stomata, therefore important in water regulation used during building of cellulose (for cell walls) and chlorophyll deciency seen as wilting, chlorosis and brown spotting

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Functions of Macronutrients
Potassium deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Potassium deciency

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Functions of Macronutrients
Magnesium (Mg) essential for photosynthesis is the central atom in chlorophyll also needed for certain enzymatic reaction deciency seen as chlorosis in older leaves

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Functions of Macronutrients
Magnesium deciency

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Sources of Macronutrients
From the air carbon from carbon dioxide oxygen from carbon dioxide and oxygen in the air!

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Sources of Macronutrients
From the soil hydrogen from water oxygen from water all other nutrients - dissolved in water

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Photosynthesis Questions 2
1. What are the 3 primary macronutrients needed by plants? [3] 2. What are the 3 secondary macronutrients needed by plants? [3] 3. Why is nitrogen needed as a plant nutrient? [1] 4. Why is phosphorus an essential nutrient? [1] 5. Which macronutrient has a major role in opening and closing stomata? [1]

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Photosynthesis Questions 2
6. Which macronutrient is the central atom in chlorophyll? [1] 7. Which common condition occurs when chlorophyll production is disrupted? [1] Total marks [11]

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