Uses of Glucose from Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis


  Carbon dioxide + water + light energy → Glucose + Oxygen
• Respiration


  Process that releases energy from glucose in the mitochondria
• Photosynthesis only produces glucose during the day


  Plant cells respire all the time, including at night
• Starch


  Insoluble storage molecule produced from glucose, can be converted back to glucose when needed
• Fats and oils


  Storage form of energy produced from glucose in many plants
• Cellulose


  Molecule in plant cell walls, made from glucose produced by photosynthesis
• Amino acids


  Produced from glucose, used by plants to synthesize proteins
• Plants need to absorb nitrate ions from the soil to make amino acids from glucose