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Photosynthesis Lab

The document outlines an experiment aimed at studying the factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis in living leaves, particularly the impact of CO2 concentration. It explains the process of photosynthesis, including the light-dependent and light-independent reactions, and details the materials and procedure for the experiment. Additionally, it discusses various pathways of photosynthesis (C3, C4, and CAM) and their adaptations to minimize photorespiration.

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2 views18 pages

Photosynthesis Lab

The document outlines an experiment aimed at studying the factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis in living leaves, particularly the impact of CO2 concentration. It explains the process of photosynthesis, including the light-dependent and light-independent reactions, and details the materials and procedure for the experiment. Additionally, it discusses various pathways of photosynthesis (C3, C4, and CAM) and their adaptations to minimize photorespiration.

Uploaded by

TechAdical
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Studying the factors

affecting the rate of


photosynthesis
Photosynthesisinlab living
leaves
Aim: To study photosynthesis in living
leavesimpact of CO2 concentration on its rate

BIO LAB
EXPERIMENT -7
Why leaves are green?

interaction of light with chloroplasts

Thylakoid
GRANA

STROMA
Photosynthesis is the process that
harnesses and converts solar
energy into chemical energy that is
used directly or indirectly by
biological systems (that means us).
Chloroplast
Photosynthesis is the process by
which autotrophic organisms use
light energy to make sugar and
oxygen gas from carbon dioxide
and water, respectively

So, Rate of photosynthesis can be measured as-


a) Rate of consumption/disappearance of CO2
b) Rate of formation of Sugar
c) Rate of formation of O2
d) Amount of chlorophyll present

https://www.jove.com/science-education/10748/what-is-photosynthesis
Photosynthesis has 3 major events:

1. Sunlight is converted into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH)


2. Water (H2O) is split into oxygen (O2)
3. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is fixed into sugars (C6H12O6)

The photosynthesis reaction:

6 CO2 + 12 H2O + sunlight  C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6O2


6 Carbon 12 Water 1 Sugar 6 Water 6 Oxygen
dioxide molecules (glucose) molecules molecules
molecules molecule
• Photosynthesis happens in two phases.
1. The light-dependent reactions convert light energy or solar energy into
chemical energy while producing ATP and NADPH.
2. The molecules of ATP produced in the light-dependent reactions are
then used to fuel the Calvin Cycle or light-independent reactions that
produce simple sugars.
An overview of Photosynthesis
Chloroplast
Light H2O CO2

NADP+
ADP
+P
LIGHT CALVIN
REACTIONS CYCLE
(in grana) (in stroma)
ATP

NADPH

O2 Sugar
The Photosynthesis Reaction is divided into two parts:
Light Reactions Dark Reactions
Light reactions or “light dependent reactions” Dark reactions or “light independent
capture light energy to power photosynthesis. reactions” do not need light energy to power
Light reactions occur during the day time. their reactions and can occur day or night.

They take place in the thylakoids. Discovered by three scientists, the dark
reactions are also called the Calvin-Bensen-
Pigments in the thylakoid membranes form Bassham cycle or just Calvin Cycle.
protein complexes called Photosystem I and
Photosystem II. Dark reactions occur in the stroma of
chloroplasts (the space that surrounds
These photosystems harvest photons to charge up thylakoids) and fix carbon dioxide into
energy carrying molecules that will power the glucose.
dark reactions.
Diagrammatic representation of Light reaction and Calvin cycle

Two rounds!

Source-https://www.toppr.com/guides/biology/photosynthesis-in-higher-plants/light-reaction/ Source- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-biology1/chapter/the-calvin-cycle/


Inefficiency of RuBisco enzyme: Photorespiration is a process that lowers the
efficiency of photosynthesis in plants. In this process RuBP reacts with oxygen to
release carbon dioxide.

C3 Pathway
• These temperate or cool-season plants, Less efficient at higher temperatures
• Primary product is 3-phosphoglyceric acid or 3-carbon acid
• It takes place in three steps – carboxylation, reduction and regeneration.
C4 and CAM pathways are two
adaptations— that allow certain species to
minimize photorespiration.

C4 Pathway (Spatial separation of CO2


fixation and sugar synthesis by RuBisco)
Plants in the tropical region are observed
following this pathway
Two-step process where a 4-carbon compound
is produced to trap CO2
Takes place in bundle sheath and mesophyll
cells
Examples : Sugarcane

CAM Plants (Temporal separation of CO2


fixation and sugar synthesis by RuBisco)
In this type of photosynthesis, plants synthesize
sugars during daytime from CO2 which is fixed
into an intermediate at the night.
Examples Pineapple and Cactus.
Objective: To study the photosynthesis in living leaves and
impact of CO2 concentration on its rate

Requirements-

• Sodium bicarbonate
• Liquid soap (~ 5 mL 250 mL of water)
• 2 plastic syringes without needle (10 mL)
• Living leaves (spinach etc.)
• Hole punch
• Beakers
• Timer
• Light source.
Procedure
• Prepare 300 ml of 0.2% bicarbonate solution
1
• Pour bicarbonate solution in a clear beaker - label it as with CO2
• Pour distilled water in another clear beaker – label it as without CO2
2 • Add soap solution to both the beakers (act as a surfactant)

• Cut 10 or more uniform leaf discs out of leaves avoiding major veins
• Put these discs in the barrel of an empty syringe
3 • Replace the plunger

• Pull a small amount of solutions from both beakers into 2 separate


syringes with leaf discs
• Tap the sides to suspend the leaves – and release the trapped air by
4 depressing the plunger while making sure that the discs aren’t crushed
• When the air spaces are infiltrated with sodium bicarbonate solution –
overall density of the leaf disc increases and disc will sink
• Oxygen bubbles are drawn out of the mesophyll layer by creating a vacuum
• Bicarbonate ion serves as the carbon source for photosynthesis in
presence of a source of light
• C source apart from the dissolved CO2 – increases the rate of photosynthesis –
• Oxygen is released in the air spaces- as a result leaf discs will float again
• This is seen as the end point of the experiment
• The effect of light intensity and exposure could also be studied
• Increase in light intensity can decrease the time taken for the leaf discs to float
• After maximum rate is attained, more light energy will not increase
photosynthesis.
• The leaf discs might sink again during the procedure – cellular respiration
can consume oxygen at the same time
• Since both processes are occurring at the same time – termed as net rate of
photosynthesis
• Colour of light being used can also effect the result
• Higher rate of photosynthesis observed – red light (highest absorbance showed by
the chlorophyll molecules)
• Lowest rate of photosynthesis of the leaf discs observed – green light
• Determination of the rate of photosynthesis (for every molecule of carbohydrate
synthesized)
• Production of O2 (in moles)
• Consumption of CO2 (in moles)
• Accumulation/production of oxygen will be analyzed in this experiment

• https://www.jove.com/science-education/10565/photosynthesis
• Create a vacuum in the barrel by pulling the plunger while closing the nozzle of
the barrel with a finger – maintain this vacuum for at least 10 seconds then release
5 • Repeat till the discs sink in the syringe

• Once all discs sink in the syringe – remove the plunger and pour the solution with
the discs out in the appropriately marked beakers
6
• Place both beakers under the light source and start the timer
• At the end of each minute record the number of floating discs and swirl to
7 dislodge any leaves stuck to the side of the beakers
In Class Activity

Photosynthesis process comparison among C3,


C4 and CAM. Provide two points for each

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