Title: How do different factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants? | MyTutor
Headings: How do different factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants?
How do different factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants?
Content: How do different factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants? | MyTutor
Answers > Biology > GCSE > Article
How do different factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants? Firstly it's important to distinguish that photosynthesis and transpiration are two different processes. Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into gucose and oxygen, using absorbed sunlight. Transpiration is the process whereby water reaching the leaves can be lost by evaporation through the stomata, pulling water up the plant through the xylem vessels. The rate of photosynthesis can be limited by the factors: temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and light intensity (draw graphs of each factor vs rate of photosynthesis). Temperature increases the rate up to a point and then quickly drops off. This is because the reaction has more kinetic energy up to a certain point, but at around 45 degrees celcius, the enzymes controlling photosynthesis start to be destroyed and cannot function. Light intensity and CO2 concentration increase both cause the rate of photosynthesis to increase while they are the limiting factor, but then plateau once another factor becomes the limiting factor.