Is there any direct relationship between chlorophyll content and rate of photosynthesis? or even in the amount of light, or carbon dioxide uptake of plants.
There is indirect relationship between chlorophyll content and rate of photosynthesis , but the direct relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and Light energy which is absorbed by chlorophyll ( chlorophyll content ).
The amount of chlorophyll affect the rate of photosynthesis because in a variegated leaf the cells either contain chlorophyll or they don't. Carbon dioxide concentration will directly affect the rate of photosynthesisas it is used in the photosynthesis reaction.
This is a silly question probably asked by an inexperience fellow. The basic principle of photosynthesis depends on chlorophyll and its content which may vary with genotypes and exposure to light in plant. Besides there are several factors governing both chlorophyll contents and rate of photosynthesis. The increase in amount of chl content is directly proportional to the rate of phosynthesis, but at certain point the increase in chl content no more contribute to photosynthesis due to other environmental limitations. even at same chl the plant show diurnal variation in rate of photosynthesis.
I agree with Amith Lal Singh, although it is direct relationship but beyond some point, increase of chlorophyll content may not give proportionate increase in photosynthesis (law of marginal returns may be seen).
Yes there is a relationship between light intensity and light quality and photosynthesis. Also as carbon dioxide increases in our atmosphere the maximum photosynthesis can increase also. All that being said the rate limiting photosynthesis factor is water to optimize plant growth. While the planet and our human body is over over 70% water the majority is not suitable for plant growth of land plants. The water for our agriculture is captured and stored in our soils and the loss of soil and its organic matter is a huge constraint on using photosynthesis for our food system. The way we produce food is linked to our water deterioration which is being expressed in marine dead zones affecting over 500 areas and growing in our major river as they go through areas affected by our agricultural practices.
Yes, there is a relationship. However, increasing chlorophyll content beyond a certain point cannot increase the rate of photsynthesis. This can be confirmed with a simple experiment varying the levels of available magnesium in the growth medium. Under magnesium deficient conditions, the amount of chlorophyll is limited, and photosynthetic CO2 fixation drops. The reason for the limit is that, as the thickness of the grana increase, light transmission to deeper layers reduces exponentially.
Article Effects of Magnesium Deficiency on the Photosynthesis and Re...
For further study of factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis, the rate limiting step is generally regarded to be the RuBisCO catalyzed carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate.
Under salt stress the reduction of leaf water potential & ionic stress may increase the uptake of Na+ ,Cl- . It blocks the stomata & cell chloroplast , where Transpiration & photosynthesis rate reduced. It may due to leaf senescence and other environmental factors.
I read good answers from the all of the respected collegious , but chlorophyll content is not as much important as the availability of the photosynthetically active radiation does .
please read ( Hans Lambers F. Stuart Chapin III Thijs L. Pons