UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
Do plants that are different color have a different efficiency of photosynthesis?
Question Date: 2017-09-20
Answer 1:

Yes - photosynthesis in plants is carried out mainly by three pigments: chlorophyll a (teal), chlorophyll b (green), and beta carotene (yellow). Any other colored pigment reflects light that might otherwise be used by the photosynthetic pigments (keep in mind, this is blue or red light - chlorophylls reflect away the teal through yellow!). If there red pigment on the underside of a leaf, then that will reflect red light back through the leaf, which increases efficiency; otherwise, it will decrease it.


Answer 2:

That's an interesting question. Chlorophyll-a is the main photosynthetic pigment. Others are chlorophyll-b, beta-carotene, and other carotenoid pigments, in land plants. They absorb light in different parts of the visible spectrum.

So the efficiency of photosynthesis would depend on what all photosynthetic pigments a plant had - the short answer to your question is 'Yes.'

You might like to look at this website to learn more, or search for yourself on google.

hyperphysics



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use