Can photosynthesis continue in the autumn/winter while the trees no longer have leaves and therefore no chloroplasts for photosynthesis? How else do they get their food? Is it also true that there is more CO . in the autumn/winter?2 in the air or less?
Answer
Plants need chloroplasts for photosynthesis. So if there are no more leaves, a deciduous tree can no longer photosynthesize. Some plants do keep their leaves in the winter (for example grass, winter cereals, spruce,…) they will still do photosynthesis, but to a much lesser extent than during the summer because the temperature is too low and there is much less light is. During the winter the plants also need less “food” (in plants this is sugars) because they do not grow. Their breathing is also lower due to the lower temperature. They get the energy they need to survive from the reserve sugars.
As you already thought, there will be a slight increase in CO . on average2concentration in the air have been seen now that far fewer plants can do photosynthesis. Finally, if the climate were to change, we expect a slightly higher temperature and more CO . for our regions2. Both factors will ensure that the plants with us will do more photosynthesis and therefore grow a little faster. However, you will not notice this difference since everything will happen very gradually and the growth is also determined by many other factors.
Answered by
Dr. ir. Peter Lootens
photosynthesis processes, abiotic stress, image processing for shape and color on plant material
Burg. van Gansberghelaan 96 box 1 9820 Merelbeke
http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
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