Uses of Glucose from Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis produces the sugar glucose and the gas oxygen
• Glucose releases energy in respiration. Photosynthesis only produces glucose during the day, while it is light, so glucose is used for conversion to starch, which can be converted back to the plant when it is needed.
• Glucose produced in photosynthesis may be:

  • used for respiration
  • converted into insoluble starch for storage
  • used to produce fat or oil for storage
  • used to produce cellulose, which strengthens the cell wall
  • used to produce amino acids for protein synthesis
• To produce proteins, plants also use nitrate ions that are absorbed from the soil