photosynthetic pigments

• Photosynthetic pigments


  Pigments found in chloroplasts that absorb different wavelengths of light for use in photosynthesis
• Types of photosynthetic pigments

  • Chlorophylls
  • Carotenoids
• Accessory pigments


  Pigments that surround the primary pigment and absorb both similar and different wavelengths of light to chlorophyll, expanding the wavelength range that can be absorbed from light for use in photosynthesis
• Chloroplast pigments


  Pigments found within the chloroplasts of plant cells
• Chloroplast pigments


  • Chlorophyll a
  • Chlorophyll b
  • β carotene
  • Xanthophyll
• Chlorophylls


  Absorb wavelengths in the blue-violet and red regions of the light spectrum, reflect green light causing plants to appear green
• Carotenoids


  Absorb wavelengths of light mainly in the blue-violet region of the spectrum
• Chlorophyll and carotenoids absorb light across the visible light spectrum to use in the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis
• Grana


  Stacked structures of thylakoids within chloroplasts
• Thylakoid membrane system


  Provides a large number of pigment molecules in an arrangement that ensures as much light as necessary is absorbed
• Photosystems


  Light-harvesting clusters of pigment molecules arranged in funnel-like structures in the thylakoid membrane
• Photosystem 1 (PSI)


  Also known as P700, contains chlorophyll a with maximum absorption at 700nm
• Photosystem 2 (PSII)


  Also known as P680, contains chlorophyll a with maximum absorption at 680nm
• The pigments themselves have colour, which is different from the colours of light that they absorb