NEET
- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
NEET · Botany · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
What organism did Engelmann illuminate with the split light...
What organism did Engelmann illuminate with the split light spectrum?
Options
- AA green alga, Cladophora
- BAn aquatic plant
- CA mouse
- DA mint plant
Correct answer
A. A green alga, Cladophora
Step-by-step solution
Now consider the interesting experiments done by T.W Engelmann (1843 – 1909). Using a prism he split light into its spectral components and then illuminated a green alga, Cladophora, placed in a suspension of aerobic bacteria. The bacteria were used to detect the sites of O₂ evolution. He observed that the bacteria accumulated mainly in the region of blue and red light of the split spectrum. A first action spectrum of photosynthesis was thus described. It resembles roughly the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b.