Limiting the rate of photosynthesis

• The food that plants produce is important, not only for the plants themselves, but for the other organisms that feed on the plants.
• Part of Biology (Single Science) Bioenergetics
• Limiting the rate of photosynthesis – Higher Plants make their own food using photosynthesis
• Affecting photosynthesis
• Limiting factors in photosynthesis can interact, and it may be any one of them that is limiting photosynthesis.
• The rate of photosynthesis increases until factors become limiting if carbon dioxide concentration is increased, the rate increases further, and then another factor becomes limiting.
• The rate of photosynthesis can be increased further if the temperature is increased.
• The rate of photosynthesis increases again until another factor becomes limiting.
• Factors that interact in limiting the rate of photosynthesis include light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and water availability.
• The law of limiting factors states that each factor does not work in isolation, several factors may interact, and it may be any one of them that is limiting photosynthesis.
• The graph shows how carbon dioxide concentration and temperature interact with the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis: the rate of photosynthesis increases until factors become limiting.
• If carbon dioxide concentration is increased, the rate increases further, and then another factor becomes limiting.
• The rate can be increased further if the temperature is increased.