MRFM Q63 H SMR 5 WZRVCJ RK

Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants make their own food is called
photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants synthesise food in the
form of carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water, utilizing solar
energy.
6CO2 + 12H2O → C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2
The oxygen is evolved from the splitting of water while glucose is
formed by reduction of
carbon-dioxide.
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in the chloroplasts.
The chlorophyll pigments trap the photons of light and get excited and
thus initiate the process of photosynthesis.
Major contribution in the process of photosynthesis

Joseph Priestley – Found out the role of air in the growth of green plants
Jan Ingenhousz – Showed that sunlight is essential for the plant processes
Julius von Sachs – Showed evidence that plants produce carbohydrates
when they grow
T.W. Engelmann – Described the first action spectrum of photosynthesis
Cornelius van Neil – Proved that oxygen evolved during photosynthesis
comes from water
Site and phases of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts.
The light phase of photosynthesis takes place in grana.
Light reaction is called so because the reaction is light driven.
The dark phase of photosynthesis takes place in stroma part of
chloroplast.
Dark reaction is indirectly dependent on light as during dark reaction, the
energy produced (during light reaction) is used.
Light Reaction
Also called photochemical phase
Includes following steps:
Absorption of light by chlorophyll molecules
Splitting of water
Formation of ATP and NADPH2
Light reaction involves two pigment systems called PS I and PS II.
Photosystem I (PS I) – It is the reaction centre having an absorption peak
at 700 nm (P700).
Photosystem II (PS II) – It is the reaction centre having an absorption
peak at 680 nm (P680).
Electron transport
Z scheme of light reaction involves:
Absorption of light by light harvesting complexes in PS II
Excitation of electrons (e–)
Transfer of e– from PS II to e– acceptor
Transfer of e– from acceptor to PS I through an electron transport chain
Excitation of electrons (e–) in PS I
Transfer of e– to another e– acceptor
Reduction of NADP+ to NADPH + H+

P680 (PS II) is directly involved with photolysis of water, thereby producing
oxygen and electrons as by-products
Electrons from PS II are utilized by PS I for reduction of NADP+
Photo - phosphorylation
Photo-phosphorylation is the production of ATP in the presence of light
energy.
Two types of photo-phosphorylation:
Cyclic photo-phosphorylation
Cyclic process and involves only PS II photosystem
Synthesis of ATP only
Non-cyclic photophosphorylation
Non-cyclic process and involves both PS I and PS II photosystem
Synthesis of both ATP and NADPH + H+
Chemiosmotic hypothesis
It states that ATP synthesis is linked to development of proton gradient across

thylakoid membrane.
Chemiosmosis requires a membrane, a proton pump, a proton gradient and
ATPase.
Proton gradient develops because of the following reasons:
Splitting of water on the inner side of membrane that releases H+ in the lumen.
When electron carriers present outside the membrane pass on their electrons to
the electron carriers present inside during photo-phosphorylation.
Removing of protons from stroma and transferring them to lumen for the
reduction of NADP+ to NADPH + H+ by the enzyme NADP reductase.
ATPase: This enzyme has two parts
F0− embedded in the membrane and carry out facilitated diffusion of H+

F1− protrudes towards the stroma
Conformational changes occur in the F1 particle of the ATPase that helps it to
synthesise ATP molecules.
Dark reaction
Reduction of CO2 to form carbohydrate
It involves two cycles: Calvin cycle (C3 cycle) or C4 pathway
Calvin cycle
It involves 3 steps – carboxylation, reduction, and regeneration.
The primary CO2 acceptor is ribulose 1, 5 bisphosphate.
The first stable product is 3-phosphoglycerate.
Enzyme involved is RuBP– carboxylase – oxygenase or RuBisCo.
Calvin cycle fixes one CO2 in one cycle. Therefore, 6CO2, along with 18
ATP and 12 NADPH, are required to make one glucose molecule.
Six turns of Calvin cycle are required to produce one molecule of
glucose.
C4 pathway [Hatch and Slack pathway]

Maize and sorghum are examples of plants that undergo C4 pathway.
C4 plants show Kranz anatomy to prevent photorespiration and show
carbon fixation through Hatch and Slack pathway.
The primary CO2 acceptor in C4 cycle is phosphoenol pyruvate.
The 1st stable product formed in C4 cycle is oxaloacetic acid.
The enzyme involved in CO2 fixation in C4 cycle is PEP carboxylase
present in mesophyll cells.
Mesophyll cells lack RuBisCo enzyme.
Bundle sheath cells have an abundance of Ribulose bisphosphate
carboxylase enzyme, but lack PEP carboxylase.
Photorespiration
It occurs in chloroplast, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.

Under high concentration of oxygen, RuBP carboxylase acts as RuBP oxygenase
and breaks Ribulose 1, 5 bisphosphate into 2 – phosphoglycolic acid.
Since some O2 binds with the RuBisCO in C3 plants, hence CO2 fixation is
decreased.
This pathway does not involve the synthesis of ATP or NADPH. Hence, it is a
wasteful process.Photorespiration
Factors affecting photosynthesis

Several factors such as light, CO2, temperature, and water affect the
process of photosynthesis.
Law of Limiting Factors (Stated by Blackman) - The Blackman’s law
of limiting factors states that when a chemical process is affected by
more than one factor, then its rate will be determined by factor which is
nearest to its minimal value (factor which directly affects the process if
its quantity is changed).
Light – There is a linear relationship between incident light and rate of
photosynthesis at low light intensities. While the rate does not increase
further at higher light intensities (as other factors become limiting).
Carbon dioxide – It is the major limiting factor. Concentration of CO2
upto 0.05% increases the rate of photosynthesis. However, beyond this
value, it is harmful.
Temperature – The rate is maximum at an optimum temperature, which
differs in different plants.
Water – Water is the main reactant in the process of photosynthesis and
its scarcity affects a lot.

MRFM Q63 H SMR 5 WZRVCJ RK

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MRFM Q63 H SMR 5 WZRVCJ RK

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MRFM Q63 H SMR 5 WZRVCJ RK

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Major contribution in the process of photosynthesis

Site and phases of photosynthesis

Absorption of light by light harvesting complexes in PS II

Excitation of electrons (e–)

Transfer of e– from PS II to e– acceptor

Transfer of e– from acceptor to PS I through an electron transport chain

Excitation of electrons (e–) in PS I

Transfer of e– to another e– acceptor

Reduction of NADP+ to NADPH + H+

It states that ATP synthesis is linked to development of proton gradient across

Proton gradient develops because of the following reasons:

ATPase: This enzyme has two parts

F0− embedded in the membrane and carry out facilitated diffusion of H+

C4 pathway [Hatch and Slack pathway]

It occurs in chloroplast, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.

Factors affecting photosynthesis

You might also like