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Why blue light affects vegetation growth.
Plants can use blue light in photosynthesis. Search for a
photosynthesis action spectrum as in Figure 7 of the first reference. Chlorophyll has an absorption peak in the blue. Do a google.com search for a chlorophyll absorption spectrum (see reference 2). Keep in mind that the chlorophyll absorption spectrum is misleading because it represents the behavior of chlorophyll extracted from the leaf and dissolved in an organic solvent. Intact leaves use green and yellow light fairly efficiently in photosynthesis contrary to what the chlorophyll absorption spectrum suggests. Blue is also the light color that activates phototropism, photomorphogenesis and some other responses (see references 3 and 4). Blue wavelengths are found in sunlight (reference 5) and in many electric light sources. Figures 1 and 2 of reference 1 indicate the wavelength distribution of one electric light source. For wavelength distributions for other electric light sources, do a google.com image search for the spectrum, e.g. incandescent spectrum or cool white spectrum. Figure 7 of reference 1 indicates that contrary to popular misconceptions: 1. Leaves reflect a small percentage of the green wavelengths. 2. Leaves absorb more than half of the green wavelengths. 3. Green wavelengths are used fairly efficiently in photosynthesis. David R. Hershey References 1. Balegh, S. E. and Biddulph, O. 1970. The photosynthetic action spectrum of the bean plant. Plant Physiology 46: 1-5. http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/reprint/46/1/1 2. Google.com search for: chlorophyll absorption spectrum http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ch&sa=N&tab=wi 3. Phototropism - Do Fast Plants Prefer the Blues? http://fastplants.org/pdf/activities...efer_blues.pdf 4. Photomorphogenesis: Blue light response http://faculty.washington.edu/ktorii...371_020515.pdf 5. Google.com search for sunlight spectrum http://images.google.com/images?svnu...&btnG =Search 6. Hershey, D.R. 2004. Avoid Misconceptions When Teaching about Plants. ActionBioscience.org original article. http://www.actionbioscience.org/education/hershey.html |
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