BRAINCAKELight Intensity as a Limiting Factor
Light provides the energy for the light-dependent reaction. Light excites electrons in chlorophyll, and this drives the photolysis of water and the production of ATP and reduced NADP. These are then used in the light-independent reaction to reduce GP to triose phosphate.
At low light intensity, too little ATP and reduced NADP is made, so light limits the rate of photosynthesis. Over this range the rate rises roughly in proportion to light intensity. At higher intensities the curve levels off, because carbon dioxide concentration or temperature is now limiting.
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Key terms in this lesson
- photolysis
- The light-driven splitting of water into protons, electrons and oxygen during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
More in Energy for Biological Processes
- Non-cyclic Photophosphorylation
- Chemiosmosis
- Calvin Cycle
- Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis
- Carbon Dioxide Concentration as a Limiting Factor
- Temperature as a Limiting Factor
- Interpreting Limiting Factor Graphs
- Effect of Limiting Factors on the Calvin Cycle
All 17 lessons in Energy for Biological Processes · All AQA A-level Biology topics