Physiological and environmental aspects of photosynthesis

Abstract

Undoubtedly, photosynthesis is one of the most important process for the life planet maintenance. The sun releases radiant energy that is able to boost the photosynthetic apparatus of the plants, which produce carbohydrates that will be used in the respiration. Among the most important reactions of photosynthesis is the release of oxygen, essential for respiration, which happens in photosystem II. The products generated in the first phase of photosynthesis or photochemical phase (ATP and NADPH) are used in the second phase or the carbon fixation phase. In this second phase acts the Rubisco enzyme, the key enzyme of photosynthesis for the production of carbohydrates such as starch and sucrose. Several factors interfere in the photosynthesis, such as temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide content, light level, water availability and others. The knowledge of these interferences has aided in the development of technologies to maximize agricultural productivity and enable agroclimatic zoning of many cultures.