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How does photosynthesis provide energy for plant growth?
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Growth
Various growth stages of the Emperor gum moth caterpillar (Opodiphthera eucalypti).
Photosynthesis provides the essential fuel for plant growth by converting light energy into chemical energy. This process occurs in two interdependent stages within the chloroplasts of plant cells.12
The Two Stages of Photosynthesis
- Light Reactions: Occurring in the grana, these reactions capture light energy to produce ATP and NADPH. These molecules act as carriers of chemical energy and reducing power.23
- Dark Reactions (Calvin-Benson Cycle): Taking place in the stroma, these reactions use the ATP and NADPH generated in the light reactions to convert carbon dioxide into energy-rich organic compounds, such as glucose.23
Fueling Growth
The resulting organic compounds serve as the primary source of energy for cell function. This energy powers the processes necessary for a plant to develop, including cell division, cell enlargement, and differentiation. By transforming raw materials like water and carbon dioxide into stored chemical energy, photosynthesis enables plants to build the biomass required for growth throughout their life span.415