NEETBotanyPhotosynthesis in Higher Plants
Besides enabling a wider range of wavelengths to be used, what is another function of the accessory pigments mentioned in the paragraph?
Options
- AThey store energy for later use
- BThey protect chlorophyll a from photo-oxidation
- CThey convert light energy directly into glucose
- DThey help in water absorption
Correct answer
B. They protect chlorophyll a from photo-oxidation
Step-by-step solution
These graphs, together, show that most of the photosynthesis takes place in the blue and red regions of the spectrum; some photosynthesis does take place at the other wavelengths of the visible spectrum. Let us see how this happens. Though chlorophyll is the major pigment responsible for trapping light, other thylakoid pigments like chlorophyll b, xanthophylls and carotenoids, which are called accessory pigments, also absorb light and transfer the energy to chlorophyll a. I ndeed, they not only enable a wider range