NEETBotanyPhotosynthesis in Higher Plants
What is the major limiting factor for photosynthesis?
Options
- ALight
- BWater
- CCarbon dioxide
- DTemperature
Correct answer
C. Carbon dioxide
Step-by-step solution
Carbon dioxide is the major limiting factor for photosynthesis. The concentration of CO2 is very low in the atmosphere (between 0.03 and 0.04 per cent). Increase in concentration upto 0.05 per cent can cause an increase in CO2 fixation rates; beyond this the levels can become damaging over longer periods. The C3 and C4 plants respond differently to CO2 concentrations. At low light conditions neither group responds to high CO2 conditions. At high light intensities, both C3 and C4 plants show increase in the rates of