Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

The rate of photosynthesis is affected by a number of factors including light levels, temperature, availability of water, and availability of nutrients. If the conditions that the plant needs are improved the rate of photosynthesis should increase. The maximum rate of photosynthesis will be constrained by a limiting factor. This factor will prevent the rate of photosynthesis from rising above a certain level even if other conditions needed for photosynthesis are improved. This limiting factor will control the maximum possible rate of the photosynthetic reaction. For instance, increasing the temperature from 10C to 20C could double the rate of photosynthesis as the plant's enzymes will be closer to their optimum working temperature. As the temperature is increased, molecules in the cells will be moving at a faster rate due to kinetic theory. If the temperature is raised above a certain level, the rate of photosynthesis will drop as the plant's enzymes are denatured. They will therefore be more likely to join onto the enzymes and react. The amount of water available to the plant will affect the rate of photosynthesis. If the plant does not have enough water, the plant's stomata will shut and the plant will be deprived of CO. It is difficult in normal lab conditions to prove that water directly affects photosynthesis unless a heavy isotope is used to trace the path of water.

Chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis. This can be proved by studying a variegated leaf. It is however very difficult to study how different levels of chlorophyll in the plant will affect it's photosynthesis rate. This is because in a variegated leaf the cells either contain chlorophyll or they don't. Carbon dioxide concentration will directly affect the rate of photosynthesis as it is used in the photosynthesis reaction. It is also easy to change the amount of carbon dioxide that the plant receives. Light is also directly used in the photosynthesis reaction and is easy to change in normal lab conditions. Carbon Dioxide and Light are the factors that I will change in the experiment as they are easy to change and measure It can be affected by many things, including: 1)Sunlight - its Intensity & wavelength. 2)Temperature 3)CO2 and O2 - availability 4)Any factor that influences the production of chlorophyll, enzymes, or energy carriers(ATP and NADPH). The rate of photosynthesis will always corrospond to that factor which is in least supply. Its rate will only increae when its supply is increated. Sunlight Generally the more light there is, the more photosynthesis occurs. This is true up to a point, where the plant has reached maximum photosynthesis levels, and so any increase in light intensity will not affect the plant further. Temperature

Generally higher temperatures are better than cold temperatures for photosynthesis. However if it is humid, and the air is saturated with water vapour, photosynthesis is limited. This is because the water vapour being expelled cannot leave and go into the air, as there isn't a concernation difference for it to diffuse across. So the water vapour sits in the leaf, stopping photosynthesis. CO2 Basically the more CO2 in the air, the better the rate of photosynthesis. Of course CO2 is taken in during the daytime, and if its content was less that normal, photosynthesis couldn't happen normally. Fertilisers increase the number of soil fungi and bacteria, thus increasing the levels of CO2 from their respiration and decomposition processes. So fertilisers are good news for plants. HOW does light affect the rate of photosynthesis? The rate of photosynthsis in a plant depends on the supply of carbon dioxide, supply of light, supply of water, temperature and various other factors like the amount of chlorophyll. At any one time, the rate is limited by the factor which is in shortest supply. If the plant is in dim light, but has plenty of CO2, H2O and is warm enough, then it will be light which is limiting the rate of the whole process. If this is the case, then increasing the light will increase the rate of photosynthesis.

On a dull day in winter in a greenhouse in UK, it is probably light which is limiting photosynthsis. However, in the tropics, with plenty of light and warmth, photosynthesis is normally limited by carbon dioxide concentration in the air. Some greenhouse owners (even in UK) increase the concentration of CO2 in their greenhouse to speed up the rate of photosynthesis in summer when there is plenty of light. How Carbon Dioxide Concentration Affects Photosynthetic Rate

As carbon dioxide concentration increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. At high concentrations, the rate of photosynthesis begins to level out due to factors not related to carbon dioxide concentration. One reason might be that some of the enzymes of photosynthesis are working at their maximum rate.1 In general, carbon dioxide is found in low concentration in the atmosphere, and so atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may be a major limiting factor on photosynthesis when at low levels.