Plant growth and productivity Flashcards
Describe what happens in photolysis
Light energy excites electrons which are passed into electron transport chains to generate ATP.
Energy used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen
Describe what happens in the calvin cycle?
Carbon dioxide combines to RuBP to form intermediates.
Intermediates are combined with hydrogen supplied by NADPH and ATP is used to form G3P.
Which enzyme is responsible for fixing Carbon Dioxide to RuBP?
Rubisco
Which coenzyme combines with hydrogen and takes it to the Calvin cycle?
NADP
What happens to the glucose made by photosynthesis?
used in respiration, used to synthesise starch, used to synthesis cellulose
What is meant by net assimilation?
The overall increase in biomass made by the plant
What is meant by productivity?
Rate at which plants generate new biomass
What is meant by economic yield?
Mass of desired product (e.g. grain)
What is meant by biological yield?
Total plant biomass produced (includes unneeded parts)
How is the harvest index calculated?
Dry mass of economic yield / Dry mass of biological yield
The purpose of replicating treatments in a field trial is to:
Take into account the variability within the plants being grown
The purpose of careful selection of treatments in a field trial?
To ensure valid comparisons can be made
The purpose of randomising treatments in a field trial:
To eliminate bias when measuring the effects of treatments
Which characteristics may plant breeders try to select for?
- Improved yield
- Improved resistance to pests or disease
- Ability to thrive in particular environments
