NEET
- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
NEET · Botany · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
In which regions of the light spectrum did Engelmann observe...
In which regions of the light spectrum did Engelmann observe bacteria accumulation?
Options
- AGreen and yellow light
- BBlue and red light
- CInfrared and ultraviolet light
- DYellow and blue light
Correct answer
B. Blue and red light
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.