Limiting Factors Flashcards
Photosynthetic rate
The rate at which plants take in carbon dioxide, water and the energy from sunlight to produce glucose
Chlorophyll
A green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used to carry out photosynthesis
Role of enzymes
Photosynthesis is an enzyme-controlled reaction where the enzymes are needed to convert carbon dioxide into glucose
Temperature
Increases the rate of reaction up to an optimum rate, after which the denaturation of enzymes will occur
Increases the rate of reaction up to an optimum rate, after which the denaturation of enzymes will occur
Sunlight
Is needed as an energy source for photosynthesis to occur
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Enters the plant through the stomata during gas exchange and is the source of carbon needed to make glucose
Temperature effect
Photosynthesis rate increases to an optimum and then decreases due to denaturing enzymes
Light intensity effect
Photosynthesis rate increases and then plateaus due to another limiting factor such as temperature or carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide concentration effect
Photosynthesis rate increases and then plateaus due to another limiting factor such as temperature or light intensity
Chlorophyll effect
Plants with diseases or variegated leaves may have less chlorophyll which reduces the rate of photosynthesis
Limiting factor
An environmental factor that prevents photosynthetic rate from increasing
Three main limiting factors
Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration
Plateau
Where a graph levels off and no longer increases past a certain point
Inverse-square law
Light intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from a light source
Inversely proportional relationship
As the distance of light from a plant increases, the light intensity decreases
