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Related Concept Videos

What is Photosynthesis?00:39

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is a multipart, biochemical process that occurs in plants as well as in some bacteria. It captures carbon dioxide and solar energy to produce glucose. Glucose stores chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The overall biochemical formula of photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is largely responsible for maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen content.
What is Photosynthesis?01:00

What is Photosynthesis?

All living organisms on Earth are directly or indirectly dependent on photosynthesis. It is the only biological process that can capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy that every organism can use to power its metabolism. Photosynthesis is also the source of oxygen required by many living organisms.
Types of Organisms Based on their Modes of Nutrition
Broadly, there are two main categories of organisms based on their modes of nutrition — autotrophs and heterotrophs. An...
The Calvin Benson Cycle01:46

The Calvin Benson Cycle

Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate light...
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The light reactions of photosynthesis assume a linear flow of electrons from water to NADP+. During this process, light energy drives the splitting of water molecules to produce oxygen. However, oxidation of water molecules is a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and requires a strong oxidizing agent. This is accomplished by the first product of light reactions: oxidized P680 (or P680+), the most powerful oxidizing agent known in biology. The oxidized P680 that acquires an electron from the...
Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

High-Throughput, In-Field Screening of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Crop Plants Using an Autonomous Robot
07:12

High-Throughput, In-Field Screening of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Crop Plants Using an Autonomous Robot

Published on: January 9, 2026

Improving photosynthesis.

John R Evans1

  • 1Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia. john.evans@anu.edu.au

Plant Physiology
|July 2, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Improving photosynthesis through Rubisco engineering and CO₂ concentration can boost crop yields and food security. These advancements offer new ways to enhance plant efficiency for a growing global population.

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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses
10:20

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses

Published on: August 9, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Agricultural Science

Background:

  • Photosynthesis is crucial for plant growth and global food security.
  • Rubisco's dual function (carboxylation/oxygenation) is a key target for improving photosynthetic efficiency.
  • Current C3 crops have limitations compared to C4 plants' CO₂-concentrating mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore strategies for enhancing crop photosynthesis to meet future food demands.
  • To investigate methods for optimizing Rubisco activity and reducing oxygenation.
  • To assess the potential of engineering C4 traits or alternative CO₂ concentrating mechanisms into C3 plants.

Main Methods:

  • Modifying Rubisco's kinetic properties through genetic engineering.
  • Implementing CO₂ concentrating mechanisms, such as transferring cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporters.
  • Engineering the C4 photosynthetic pathway into C3 rice (Oryza sativa).

Main Results:

  • Recent breakthroughs enable in planta engineering and assembly of higher plant Rubisco with novel amino acid sequences.
  • Potential exists to enlarge Rubisco's kinetic properties beyond natural evolutionary constraints.
  • Strategies like CO₂ concentration can reduce Rubisco oxygenase activity.

Conclusions:

  • Enhancing Rubisco and CO₂ concentration are promising strategies to improve crop photosynthesis.
  • Engineering C4 pathways or utilizing bicarbonate transporters offers alternative routes to increased efficiency.
  • Continued research on carbon allocation and crop quality is essential for realizing yield potential.