Title: Factors affecting photosynthesis - Photosynthesis - AQA - GCSE Combined Science Revision - AQA Trilogy - BBC Bitesize
Headings: Factors affecting photosynthesis
Photosynthesis - AQA
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Factors affecting photosynthesis
Light intensity
Carbon dioxide concentration
Temperature
Chlorophyll
The compensation point

Content: Several factors can affect the rate of photosynthesis: light intensity
carbon dioxide concentration
temperature
The amount of chlorophyll also affects the rate of photosynthesis: plants in lighting conditions unfavourable for photosynthesis synthesise more chlorophyll, to absorb the light required
the effects of some plant diseases affect the amount of chlorophyll, and therefore the ability of a plant to photosynthesise
Light intensity
Without enough light, a plant cannot photosynthesise very quickly - even if there is plenty of water and carbon dioxide and a suitable temperature. Increasing the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis, until some other factor – a limiting factor – becomes in short supply. previous
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At very high light intensities, photosynthesis is slowed and then inhibited, but these light intensities do not occur in nature. Carbon dioxide concentration
Carbon dioxide – with water – is one of the reactants in photosynthesis. If the concentration of carbon dioxide is increased, the rate of photosynthesis will therefore increase. Again, at some point, a factor may become limiting. Temperature
The chemical reactions that combine carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose are controlled by enzymes. As with any other enzyme-controlled reaction, the rate of photosynthesis is affected by temperature.