Biology Chapter 6 : Nutrition 6.

12 the factors affecting photosynthesis

Members of the group: Muzaffar Azrai Asmirul Farhan

Aslam Azim wafiy Elreiq

Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis only takes place in the presence of light, as well as when there are carbon dioxide, water and chlorophyll available. The rate of photosynthesis therefore depends on the following factors: i. Light intensity ii. Carbon dioxide concentration iii. The temperature

Light intensity

If the amount of carbon dioxide and the temperature are kept constant, the rate of photosynthesis is directly proportional to the light intensity. This means that as the light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. This relationship is true to a certain point where the light intensity is concerned. Beyond this point, the rate of photosynthesis remains constant. Any further increase in the light intensity has no effect on the rate of photosynthesis. This point is called the saturated point and beyond this point, we say that the rate of photosynthesis has saturated. The graph on the next will shows the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.

Graph of the relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis

Beyond the saturation point, the rate of photosynthesis remains constant even if the light intensity is being increased further. This is because the temperature and the concentration of the carbon dioxide become the limiting factors governing the rate of photosynthesis. If the light

intensity is increased further, there will come a point where the chlorophyll will be damaged and the rate of photosynthesis will slow down.

Carbon dioxide concentration

The relationship between the concentration of carbon dioxide with the rate of photosynthesis is similar to the relationship of light intensity with the rate of photosynthesis discussed above. This is to say that, if the light intensity and the temperature are kept constant, the concentration of carbon dioxide is directly proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. The higher the concentration of carbon dioxide, the higher is the rate of photosynthesis. This relationship holds true until a saturation point. Beyond this point, any increase in the concentration has no effect on the rate of photosynthesis. The rate remains constant. The graph on the next slide will shows the relationship between the concentration of carbon dioxide with the rate of photosynthesis.

The graph of relationship between the concentration of carbon dioxide with the rate of photosynthesis

The temperature

When the light intensity and concentration of the carbon dioxide are kept constant, an increase in the temperature increases the rate of enzyme activities and hence, increases the rate of photosynthesis. The rate increases until the maximum rate at the temperature of about 25-30 degrees Centigrade is reached. If the temperature is increased further, the enzymes are denatured and the rate of photosynthesis drops drastically. At a sufficiently high temperature, all the enzymes are denatured and no photosynthesis can take place.

The graph of relationship between the temperature and the rate of photosynthesis .

Differences in the rate of photosynthesis throughout the day The rate of photosynthesis is not constant throughout the day

but fluctuates depending on the intensity of light and the temperature. In the early morning, the rate of photosynthesis is low because the light intensity and the temperature are low; it slowly increases and reaches its maximum at noon when the light intensity and the temperature are at the maximum. The rate of photosynthesis saturates at midday because the concentration of carbon dioxide becomes the limiting factor. In the evening, the rate of photosynthesis decreases and reaches its minimum point at sunset. When there is no sunlight, the dark reaction of photosynthesis takes place. The figure below shows the variations in the rate of photosynthesis throughout the day.

Variations in the rate of photosynthesis throughout the day

The productivity of crops and the rate of photosynthesis

The green house Plants grow very well in the tropics where the temperature, sunlight and rainfall are at an optimum. However, this is not the case in countries located in the northern and southern hemispheres where four seasons winter, spring, autumn and summer exist. In such places, the rate of photosynthesis and hence, the productivity of crops, vary throughout the year. The productivity of crops is highest in summer when there is sufficient light intensity and a suitable temperature. In winter, there is no crop productivity since there is minimal sunlight and the temperature is the lowest. In order to ensure a continuous supply of crops, such as fruits and vegetables, some plants are grown in green houses.

In the green houses, farmers can control and regulate the amount of light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide as well the amount of water so as to create the optimum conditions for photosynthesis and hence, maximise the crop yields. These conditions allow crop productions throughout the year regardless of changes in the weather outside the green houses.