TYPES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

This page introduces you to photosynthesis and explains the three types of photosynthesis and their relevance for desert adaptation. Concepts:

Photosynthesis: the bonding together of CO2 (carbon dioxide) with H2O (water) to make CH2O (sugar) and O2 (oxygen), using the sun's energy. he sugar contains the stored energy and ser!es as the raw materia" from which other com#ounds are made. Respiration is the o##osite of #hotosynthesis $$ the stored energy in the sugar is re"eased in the #resence of oxygen, and this reaction re"eases the CO 2 and H2O origina""y %ammed together by the sun's energy. Stomata: the &#ores& in "ea!es (and stems) through which CO 2 is taken in and O2 is re"eased during #hotosynthesis. '"ants contro" when stomata are o#en or c"osed and the width of the o#ening (formed by two guard ce""s that ex#and and contract to o#en and c"ose the s#ace between them). Transpiration: the water that e!a#orates out of stomata when they are o#en. his #u""s more water and nutrients u# to the to# of the #"ant, but causes the #"ant to "ose water and #otentia""y dehydrate. Water Use Efficiency WUE!: How good the #"ant is at bringing in carbon dioxide for #hotosynthesis without "osing much water out of its stomata. (ore s#ecifica""y, it is the ratio of carbon dioxide intake to water "ost through trans#iration. Photorespiration: )nder high "ight and high heat, the en*yme (+),-.CO) that grabs carbon dioxide for #hotosynthesis may grab oxygen instead, causing re#iration to occur instead of #hotosynthesis, thus causing a s"owing of the #roduction of sugars from #hotosynthesis..

he three ty#es of #hotosynthesis are C/, C0, and C1(. C/ #hotosynthesis is the ty#ica" #hotosynthesis tha most #"ants use and that e!eryone "earns about in schoo" (it was a"" we knew about unti" a few decades ago). C 0 and C1( #hotosynthesis are both ada#tations to arid conditions because they resu"t in better water use efficiency. -n addition, C1( #"ants can &id"e,& sa!ing #recious energy and water during harsh times, and C0 #"ants can #hotosynthesi*e faster under the desert's high heat and "ight conditions than C / #"ants because they use an extra biochemica" #athway and s#ecia" anatomy to reduce #hotores#iration. ,e"ow are the detai"s.

C" Photosynthesis : C/ #"ants.

Ca""ed C/ because the CO2 is first incor#orated into a /$carbon com#ound. .tomata are o#en during the day. +),-.CO, the en*yme in!o"!ed in #hotosynthesis, is a"so the en*yme in!o"!ed in the u#take of CO2. 'hotosynthesis takes #"ace throughout the "eaf. #daptive $alue: more efficient than C0 and C1( #"ants under coo" and moist conditions and under norma" "ight because re2uires "ess machinery (fewer en*ymes and no s#ecia"i*ed anatomy).. (ost #"ants are C/.

C% Photosynthesis : C0 #"ants.

Ca""ed C0 because the CO2 is first incor#orated into a 0$carbon com#ound. .tomata are o#en during the day. )ses '3' Carboxy"ase for the en*yme in!o"!ed in the u#take of CO2. his en*yme a""ows CO2 to be taken into the #"ant !ery 2uick"y, and then it &de"i!ers& the CO2 direct"y to +),-.CO for #hotsynthesis. 'hotosynthesis takes #"ace in inner ce""s (re2uires s#ecia" anatomy ca""ed 4ran* 1natomy) #daptive $alue: o 'hotosynthesi*es faster than C/ #"ants under high "ight intensity and high tem#eratures because the CO2 is de"i!ered direct"y to +),-.CO, not a""owing it to grab oxygen and undergo #hotores#iration. o Has better 5ater )se 3fficiency because '3' Carboxy"ase brings in CO2 faster and so does not need to kee# stomata o#en as much ("ess water "ost by trans#iration) for the same amount of CO2 gain for #hotosynthesis. C0 #"ants inc"ude se!era" thousand s#ecies in at "east 67 #"ant fami"ies. 3xam#"e: fourwing sa"tbush #ictured here, corn, and many of our summer annua" #"ants.

C#& Photosynthesis : C1( #"ants. C1( stands for Crassu"acean 1cid (etabo"ism

Ca""ed C1( after the #"ant fami"y in which it was first found (Crassu"aceae) and because the CO2 is stored in the form of an acid before use in #hotosynthesis. .tomata o#en at night (when e!a#oration rates are usua""y "ower) and are usua""y c"osed during the day. he CO2 is con!erted to an acid and stored during the night. 8uring the day, the acid is broken down and the CO2 is re"eased to +),-.CO for #hotosynthesis #daptive $alue:

,etter 5ater )se 3fficiency than C/ #"ants under arid conditions due to o#ening stomata at night when trans#iration rates are "ower (no sun"ight, "ower tem#eratures, "ower wind s#eeds, etc.). o (ay C1($id"e. 5hen conditions are extreme"y arid, C1( #"ants can %ust "ea!e their stomata c"osed night and day. Oxygen gi!en off in #hotosynthesis is used for res#iration and CO2 gi!en off in res#iration is used for #hotosynthesis. his is a "itt"e "ike a #er#etua" energy machine, but there are costs associated with running the machinery for res#iration and #hotosynthesis so the #"ant cannot C1($id"e fore!er. ,ut C1($ id"ing does a""ow the #"ant to sur!i!e dry s#e""s, and it a""ows the #"ant to reco!er !ery 2uick"y when water is a!ai"ab"e again (un"ike #"ants that dro# their "ea!es and twigs and go dormant during dry s#e""s). C1( #"ants inc"ude many succu"ents such as cactuses and aga!es and a"so some orchids and brome"iads
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