BRAINCAKELimiting Factors of Photosynthesis
The rate of photosynthesis depends on several external factors. The main ones are light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature. Water is also needed, but a plant usually closes its stomata and slows photosynthesis long before water runs out as a raw material.
A limiting factor is the factor that is in shortest supply, so it holds the rate down. Increasing a limiting factor increases the rate; increasing any other factor has no effect. This is the law of limiting factors: at any moment the rate is set by whichever factor is nearest its minimum value.
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More in Photosynthesis
- The Calvin Cycle
- The Products of Photosynthesis
- C4 Plants
- Rubisco
- Light
- Carbon Dioxide
- Temperature
- Limiting Factors in the Wild
All 20 lessons in Photosynthesis · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics