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

Content: Factors affecting photosynthesis - Photosynthesis - OCR Gateway - GCSE Combined Science Revision - OCR Gateway - BBC Bitesize
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Photosynthesis
Plants make food using photosynthesis. This food is important for the plants themselves and for organisms that feed on plants. Getting optimum rates of photosynthesis produces maximum plant yields. Part of
Combined Science
Cell level systems
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Factors affecting photosynthesis
There are several ways of measuring the rate of photosynthesis in the lab. These include: the rate of oxygen output
the rate of carbon dioxide uptake
the rate of carbohydrate production
These are not perfect methods as the plant will also be respiring, which will use up some oxygen and carbohydrate and increase carbon dioxide output. 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 may 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.