BRAINCAKELimiting Factors of Photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis depends on several environmental factors. The main ones are light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature. Water and mineral ions also matter, but in most conditions they are not the ones controlling the rate.
A limiting factor is the factor that is in shortest supply relative to what is needed, so it is the one holding the rate back. If you increase the limiting factor, the rate of photosynthesis increases. If you increase any other factor, the rate stays the same.
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Key terms in this lesson
- rubisco
- The enzyme that catalyses the fixation of carbon dioxide onto ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) in the Calvin cycle; it is the rate-limiting enzyme of photosynthesis.
More in Energy for Biological Processes
- Cyclic Photophosphorylation
- Non-cyclic Photophosphorylation
- Chemiosmosis
- Calvin Cycle
- Light Intensity as a Limiting Factor
- Carbon Dioxide Concentration as a Limiting Factor
- Temperature as a Limiting Factor
- Interpreting Limiting Factor Graphs
All 17 lessons in Energy for Biological Processes · All AQA A-level Biology topics