Light Independent Reaction

• LIR occurs in the stroma
• Carbon Fixation in the LIR causes CO2 and RuBP to be catalysed by RuBisCo into an unstable 6C
• The Unstable 6C molecule from carbon fixation forms 2x GP molecules, which is then reduced into 2x TP using 2x NADPH and 2ATP, oxidising NADP during the Reduction Stage
• Some carbon is lost to produce useful organic molecules, such as glucose during the reduction stage
• In Regeneration, after 1C leaves, a 5C RuP is formed, which is then phosphorylised into 5C RuBP and ADP
• Limiting Factors of LIR:

  • Temperature
  • Light Intensity
  • CO2 Concentration
  • Mineral Level
• Agricultural Practices to improve LIR, increasing yield and profits:

  • Artificial light
  • Artificial heat
  • CO2 Addition