Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis

• Limiting factor


  Something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life processes
• Main factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis

  • Temperature
  • Light intensity
  • Carbon dioxide concentration
• Water is not considered a limiting factor for photosynthesis as the amount needed is relatively small compared to the amount of water transpired from a plant
• What can affect the rate of photosynthesis?

  Chlorophyll or chloroplasts
• Effect of temperature on photosynthesis

  1. Lower temperature - less kinetic energy, fewer successful collisions

  2. Higher temperature - more kinetic energy, more collisions between reactants and enzyme however enzymes can be denatured, reducing the rate of photosynthesis
• Light intensity


  The more light a plant receives, the faster the rate of photosynthesis
• The trend of increasing photosynthesis rate with light intensity will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in short supply
• Carbon dioxide concentration

  The more carbon dioxide that is present, the faster the photosynthesis reaction can occur
• The trend of increasing photosynthesis rate with carbon dioxide concentration will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in short supply