Fine-tuning the photosynthetic light harvesting apparatus for improved photosynthetic efficiency and biomass yield.

ABSTRACT: Photosynthetic electron transport rates in higher plants and green algae are light-saturated at approximately one quarter of full sunlight intensity. This is due to the large optical cross section of plant light harvesting antenna complexes which capture photons at a rate nearly 10-fold faster than the rate-limiting step in electron transport. As a result, 75% of the light captured at full sunlight intensities is reradiated as heat or fluorescence. Previously, it has been demonstrated that reductions in the optical cross-section of the light-harvesting antenna can lead to substantial improvements in algal photosynthetic rates and biomass yield. By surveying a range of light harvesting antenna sizes achieved by reduction in chlorophyll b levels, we have determined that there is an optimal l

SUBMITTER: Friedland N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6736957 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature