The plant having high concentration of chlorophyll-b but lacking chlorophyll-a will not carry out photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll-a molecules forms the reaction centre and acts as the main pigment molecules. The other pigments like chlorophyll-b and other photosynthetic pigments such as carotenoids and xanthophylls act as accessory pigments. Their role is to absorb the different wavelength of light and make the process of photosynthesis efficient. Carotenoids and xanthophylls also protect the chlorophyll molecule from photo-oxidation.
Figure 13.10 shows the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis. Based on the graph, answer the following questions:
(a) At which point/s (A, B or C) in the curve is light a limiting factor?
(b) What could be the limiting factor/s in region A?
(c) What do C and D represent on the curve?
Give comparison between C3 and C4 pathways.
