Photosynthesis system

Photosynthesis systems are electronic scientific instruments designed for non-destructive measurement of photosynthetic rates in the field.

Photosynthesis systems are commonly used in agronomic and environmental research, as well as studies of the global carbon cycle.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken up by leaves in the process of photosynthesis, where CO2 is used to generate sugars in a molecular pathway known as the Calvin cycle.

While stoma are open, water vapor can easily diffuse out of plant tissues, a process known as transpiration.

The basic components of a photosynthetic system are the leaf chamber, infrared gas analyzer (IRGA), batteries and a console with keyboard, display and memory.

This is because external air has natural fluctuations in CO2 and water vapor content, which can introduce measurement noise.

[1] Some systems are also equipped with temperature control and a removable light unit, so the effect of these environmental variables can also be measured.

A simple and general equation for Photosynthesis is: CO2+ H2O+ (Light Energy)→ C6H12O6+O2 There are two distinct types of photosynthetic system; ‘open’ or ‘closed’.

[1] In contrast, in a ‘closed system’, the same atmosphere is continuously measured over a period of time to establish rates of change in the parameters.

Therefore, the conductance of stomata influences both photosynthetic rate (A) and transpiration (E), and the usefulness of measuring A is enhanced by the simultaneous measurement of E. The internal CO2 concentration (Ci) is also quantified, since Ci represents an indicator of the availability of the primary substrate (CO2) for A.

The plant-scientific community has generally accepted photosynthetic systems as reliable and accurate tools to assist research.