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Photosynthesis Action Spectrum
Hi.
Looking at a graph of light absorption, chlorophyll (a+b) appear to absorb at a peak of 642 and 662 nm in the red region. I'd guess that the action-spectrum would show maximum action at some point between these two wavelengths, however the graph I have shows the peak activity at around 690nm. What's the deal? If you had to use a red light with one specific wavelength, what would it be? Thanks. |
#3
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Photosynthesis Action Spectrum
What kind of plant do you have and what is your goal that involves
using a single wavelength? A photosynthesis absorption spectrum is artificial because chlorophyll is extracted into an organic solvent, which shifts the absorption peak compared to in vivo. It is an in vitro spectrum which also excludes the accessory pigments, such as carotenoids, that in the intact leaf capture light energy at wavelengths chlorophyll absorbs poorly and channels it to chlorophyll. The in vitro chlorophyll extract also lacks the complex chloroplast and leaf structure found in the leaf. Salisbury and Ross's Plant Physiology text suggests that chlorophyll in vivo has a much higher absorption of green and yellow wavelengths than the in vitro absorption spectrum because photons not absorbed the first time can be "repeatedly reflected from chloroplast to chloroplast" and get multiple chances for absorption. They suggest the actual absorption of green and yellow wavelengths by chlorophyll in vivo is about 50% compared to under 5% in the absorption spectrum. Salisbury and Ross gives a graph summarizing action spectra of 22 crop species, and the peak is 100% at between 600 to 640 nm with a blue peak of between 60 to 75% at around 450 nm. However, the average between 500 and 600 nm is actually above the blue peak. Plants with bluish leaves, such as blue Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca' and related cultivars) may have no blue peak. Other pigments, such as anthocyanins, may absorb or reflect some wavelengths making them unavailable for photosynthesis, which can also alter the action spectrum. David R. Hershey (flopmaster) wrote in message . com... Hi. Looking at a graph of light absorption, chlorophyll (a+b) appear to absorb at a peak of 642 and 662 nm in the red region. I'd guess that the action-spectrum would show maximum action at some point between these two wavelengths, however the graph I have shows the peak activity at around 690nm. What's the deal? If you had to use a red light with one specific wavelength, what would it be? Thanks. |
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