Photosynthesis in intermittent illumination

Author:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The reduction of one molecule of carbon dioxide per two thousand molecules of chlorophyll after each intense flash of light of very short duration, while three hundred or m ore are reduced when the duration of the flash is greatly increased, can be explained by assuming that chlorophyll sensitizes the activation of a substance A which, by handing on its energy, causes the reduction of carbon dioxide in combination with a substance S. The decay of activated A is a relatively rapid process while that of the activated compound of carbon dioxide and S is relatively slow. The yield for short flashes is determined by A , that for long flashes by S. The ratio of to A is of the order of 100.