ex 8: photosynthesis and transpiration

recall: LEAF – primary organ for photosynthesis and transpiration

characteristics of a leaf which enable photosynthesis and transpiration

to proceed:

a) aerial location exposes it to light and CO2

b) broad and flattened shape of leaf

*mesophyll – palisade mesophyll (chlorenchyma) – chloroplast – rich

parenchyma
*chloroplast – organelle which contains chlorophyll pigments
*chlorophyll – light- capturing pigment

2 kinds of chlorophyll pigments

1) chl a – dark green
2) chl b – yellow green
Other / accessory pigments – not directly involved in photosynthetic
energy transduction but serves to broaden the range of light that can be
used for photosynthesis
3)xanthophyll – yellowish to brown pigments
4)carotene – orange
5)anthocyanin – violet

*separation of pigments:
plant extract – contains chlorophyll and other pigments
- banana leaf extract (used for the experiment)
paper chromatography – technique used in separation of pigments

A.Photosynthesis – a process which transforms light energy to chemical

energy
light
CO 2 + H 2 O --------- C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2
chlorophyll

*the main product of photosynthesis is not actually glucose (6C

sugars) but trioses (3C sugars)

- how to know if photosynthesis is taking place?

measure CO2 taken up
measure how much glucose is formed
measure how much O2 is produced*
*
by counting the number of bubbles that form per minute
(rate of photosynthesis) in Hydilla leaf

-importance of photosynthesis:
*converts light energy to chemical energy to “drive”
life processes
 *maintains the CO2 : O2 ratio in the atmosphere
*energy from fossil fuels (petroleum and coal)
comes from the photosynthates stored in plants that
existed millions of years ago

-photosynthates – products of photosynthesis

STARCH- stored form of carbohydrates
SUCROSE- transport form of carbohydrates
(occurs in PHLOEM, specifically the SIEVE TUBE ELEMENT)

B.Transpiration- loss of H2O in vapor form through the stomates

http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Stomata.jpg

Guard cell – turgid – stoma opens

- flaccid – stoma closes

- importance of transpiration
*speeds up movement of H2O from root to other
parts
*mineral absorption – most minerals are dissolved in
water, the higher the rate of transpiration, the higher the
mineral absorption rate
*lowers leaf temperature – prevents leaf
temperature from rising too high as to injure cells
-POTOMETER set-up – movement of bubbles indicates that the
plant is taking up water
- measure how far the bubble moves per
minute (rate of transpiration)
- plant to be used: Gardenia jasminoides
(rosal)