Factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is affected by many factors, both external (in the environmental) and internal (inside the plant). External factors include light intensity, the wavelength of light, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, wind velocity, and water and mineral supplies. Internal factors include type and concentration of photosynthetic pigments, enzyme and water content, and leaf structure, and position.

The effect of many of these factors is difficult to determine quantitatively because they interact, they also affect other processes in the plant. For example, the importance of water to photosynthesis cannot be demonstrated easily. Simply depriving a plant of water kills it, but the cause of death may not be connected with photosynthesis. The importance of water can be demonstrated using water labeled with a heavy isotope of oxygen, ¹⁸O, and tracing the isotope using an instrument called a mass spectrometer which can measure the masses of atoms. One batch of Chlorella (green algae) is placed in water in which the oxygen atoms have been replaced by the heavy isotope. Then a second batch of Chlorella in unlabelled water is given a supply of carbon dioxide labeled with ¹⁸O. Only the first batch of Chlorella gives off oxygen labeled with ¹⁸O, confirming that the oxygen formed in photosynthesis comes only from water, not from carbon dioxide.

Light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature are three external factors that are relatively easy to manipulate. Consequently they have been the focus of many investigations on photosynthesis.

Light intensity

The rate of photosynthesis is directly proportional to light intensity. A typical plant responds to changes in light intensity. Very high light intensities may actually damage some plants, reducing their ability to photosynthesise.

The light compensation point (the light intensity at which the rate of photosynthesis is exactly balanced by the rate of respiration) varies for different plants. Two major groups have been identified: sun plants and shade plants. Sun plants include most temperate trees, such as oak. They photosynthesise best at high light intensities. Shade plants include those of the shrub layer, such as ferns. Their light compensation point is relatively low, but they cannot photosynthesise very efficiently at high light intensities. Consequently sun plants outcompete shade plants at high light intensities.

Carbon dioxide levels

The average carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere is about 0.04 per cent. As long as there is no other factor limiting photosynthesis, an increase in carbon dioxide concentration up to 0.5 per cent usually results in an increase in the rate of photosynthesis. However, concentrations above 0.1 per cent can damage leaves. Therefore the optimum concentration of carbon dioxide is probably just under 0.1 per cent. In dense, warm, and well-lit vegetation, low levels of carbon dioxide often limit the rate of photosynthesis. Growers of greenhouse tomatoes recognise this and provide a carbon dioxide enriched atmosphere for their plants.

Temperature

Changes in temperature have little effect on the reactions of the light-dependent stage because these are driven by light, not heat. However, the reactions of the Calvin cycle are catalysed by enzymes which, like all enzymes, are sensitive to temperature. The effect of temperature on these reactions is similar to its effects on other enzymes. The optimum temperature varies foe each species, but many temperate plants have an optimum temperature between 25° C and 30° C.

Law of limiting factors

So far we have looked at the effects of isolated factors. However, under natural conditions plants are subjected to many factors simultaneously. The law of limiting factors state that: when a physiological process depends on more than one essential factor being favourable, its rate at any given moment is limited by the factor at its least favourable value and by that factor alone. When other factors are kept constant, an improvement in the value of the limiting factor leads to an increase in the rate of the process. Conversely, when the rate of the process does not increase in response to an improvement in an important factor, some other factor is limiting to process. For a process to go at its maximum rate, all factors must be at their optimum level.

 

■ Glossary of essential terms for you to know

№	English term	Russian equivalent
	rate	размер
	to measure	измерять
	volume	объем
	amount	количество
	to release	выпускать
	pondweed	рдест
	accurate	точный
	respiration	дыхание
	point	точка
	exact	точный
	to be related to	относиться к
	external	внешний
	internal	внутренний
	wavelength	длина волны
	velocity	скорость
	supply	снабжение
	leaf (pl. leaves)	листок
	to determine	определять
	to interact	взаимодействовать
	to damage	повреждать
	to reduce	уменьшать
	oak	дуб
	shrub	куст
	fern	папоротник
	content	содержание
	sensitive	чувствительный
	to vary	изменять
	to subject	подвергать
	constant	постоянный

■ Your Essential Assignments

I. Quick check:

1. Why is difficult to demonstrate the importance of water to photosynthesis?

2. How does the light compensation point of a shade plant differ from that of a sun plant?

II. Fill in the missing words: