Variation of Light Intensity Affects the Rate of Photosynthesis in Hydrilla verticillata1

Vicente D. Limsan Jr. BOTANY 1 (Introduction to Plant Science Laboratory) Sec. T-5L

February 1, 2008

scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in General Botany 1 laboratory under Mrs. Therese Lina A. Honrade, 2nd sem., 20072008.

1A

ABSTRACT

The external factor, in this case, the light intensity is crucial in the photosynthesis, and the variation of its quality affects the photosynthetic rate. The effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis was determined by counting the number of oxygen bubbles produced under high and low light intensities. The number of oxygen bubbles produced measures the rate of photosynthesis. The low light intensity showed the least number of oxygen bubbles (10 oxygen bubbles/min). The high light intensity showed the most number of oxygen bubbles (21 oxygen bubbles/min). Therefore, the higher the light intensity, the higher and faster the rate of photosynthesis.

INTRODUCTION

All organisms need energy for their life processes which is vital to survival. The sun is the source of energy that keeps you and all other organisms alive. Some kinds of organisms, such as plants, capture the suns energy and make molecules that store the energy. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (green plants) use energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. It is divided into two phases, the light (light-dependent) reaction and the dark (light-independent) reaction (Smith and Smith, 2001). During the light reaction, several important events take place. It begins when the chlorophyll within the chloroplasts is activated by the light energy coming from the sun (Wallace, 1992). Light energy is then converted into chemical energy for use in splitting water and making ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) an energy that enables plants to do biochemical processes such as photosynthesis (Solomon et al., 1993). Plants use pigments (green pigments) called chlorophyll to trap the light energy. Chlorophyll absorbs light primarily in the blue and red regions of the

visible light (Solomon et al., 1993). This process occurs in the organelle of a plant cell called chloroplasts where different pigments are found. Photosynthesis is an important biochemical process. It maintains the carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) ratio in the atmosphere. It is also the source of fossil fuels that we burn everyday that took millions of years to form. The product of photosynthesis is a source of food for some consumers mostly the organisms who eat plants. Plants feed themselves without consuming organic molecules. Plants are the producers of all living organisms (Campbell et al., 2000). The light intensity, on the other hand, is the main variable factor of the photosynthesis experiment. As discussed above, plants trap light energy to be able to perform the process of photosynthesis. If there are more light (light intensity) present, then the greater probability plants perform photosynthesis. Therefore, the higher the light intensity, the faster the rate of photosynthesis. This study was intended to determine the effects of the light intensity in the rate of photosynthesis in Hydrilla verticillata. This study was conducted at Room C-112, Institute of Biological Sciences, UPLB on February 2008.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In testing the effect of light intensity in the rate of photosynthesis in Hydrilla verticillata, we prepared three (3) set-ups. The plant was set inside the funnel covered with test tube and place in a beaker with water. The first set-up was placed in a box in the dimmest part of the room. The light was measured by a light-measuring gadget in lux. The light intensity in the first set-up is 0 lux. In the second set-up it was placed under low light intensity. The light source in the second set-up was a study lamp that measured 1860 lux. The third set-up was placed under high light intensity; two (2) study lamps were used that measured 2050 lux. Oxygen bubbles that were produced by the plants were recorded in every 30 seconds and doubled to measure the number of oxygen bubbles produced in a minute. The process was repeated three (3) times and calculated the average number of oxygen bubbles (OB). This was done in every set-up and calculated using the following formula:

A table showing the calculation of the number of oxygen bubbles and a graph showing the relationship of the light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis were plotted and analyzed.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The result of the experiment showed that in the first set-up the least amount of oxygen bubbles, which produced nothing. The second set-up with low light intensity yielded an average of nine (9) oxygen bubbles per minute. In the third set-up under high light intensity, it yielded an average of twenty-three (23) oxygen bubbles per minute. (See Table 1 and Figure 1) To be able to undergo the process of photosynthesis, plants need light energy from the sun. Light energy provides the energy required for the conversion of CO2 into simple sugars (Carbohydrates). Thus, the intensity and availability of the light to the plant particularly in the leaf will directly influence the rate of photosynthesis (Smith and Smith, 2000). Light intensity is one of the factors that affect the process. Oxygen release by aquatic plants may sometimes be visible as bubbles in water. The plant is actively carrying on photosynthesis, as evidenced by the oxygen bubbles (Solomon et al., 1993) as in this case the Hydrilla verticillata. The higher the light intensity present, the greater number of oxygen bubbles was produced. And the lower the light intensity present, the lesser number of oxygen bubbles was produced by the plant. This would mean that the higher the light intensity, the higher the rate of photosynthesis.

Table 1. Number of Oxygen Bubbles produced by the plant (Hydrilla verticillata) in different light intensities

Trial x y z Average

Set-up 1 0 0 0 0

Set-up 2 10 8 8 9

Set-up 3 26 22 22 23

Figure 1. Relationship of Light Intensity and the Rate of Photosynthesis

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The effect of varying light intensity in the rate of photosynthesis of Hydrilla verticillata was determined. The control set-up yielded the least number of oxygen bubbles (0 OB/min) followed by the second set-up that yielded nine (9) oxygen bubbles per minute. While the third set-up yielded the most number of oxygen bubbles, 23 OB/min. The first set-up shows the slowest rate of photosynthesis while the third set-up shows the fastest rate of photosynthesis. Increasing the light intensity will hasten the rate of photosynthesis. Therefore, the higher the light intensity, the higher or faster the rate of photosynthesis.

LITERATURE CITED

Campbell, N.A., J.B. Reece and L.G. Mitchell. 2000. Biology. 5th ed. California: Benjamin and Cummings Pub. Co. Inc. p. 185. Smith, Robert Lee and T.B. Smith. 2001. Ecology and Field Biology. 6th ed. New York: Benjamin and Cummings Pub. Co. Inc. p. 86. Smith, Thomas M. and Robert Leo Smith. 2006. Elements of Ecology. 6th ed. New York: Benjamin and Cummings Pub. Co. Inc. p.106 Solomon, Eldra Pearl, L. R. Berg, D. W. Martin and C. Ville. 1993. Biology. 3rd ed. New York: Saunders College Pub. pp. 188-189, 191. Wallace, Robert A. 1992. Biology: The World of Life. 6th ed. New York: HarperCollins Publishing Inc. p. 127.