Although humanity has been interested in photosynthesis for millions of years, rapid progress in understanding the process has come in recent years. One of the things we've learned is that, in general, photosynthesis is relatively inefficient.
For example, based on the amount of carbon fixed by a cornfield during a normal growth period, only about 1 to 2% of the solar energy that falls on the field is recovered as new products of photosynthesis. The life efficiency of cultivated plants is only 0.2%. In sugarcane, which is one of the most efficient plants, 8% of the light absorbed by the plant is conserved as chemical energy.
Many plants, especially those that originate in temperate zones undergo a process called photorespiration. It is a kind of "short circuit" in which much of the products of photosynthesis are wasted. The phenomenon of photorespiration including its function, if it exists, is just one of many puzzles faced by the researcher of photosynthesis.
If we can fully understand processes as photorespiration, we will have the ability to alter them. Thus, the most efficient plants can be designed. Although new plant varieties have been developed for centuries through selective breeding, the techniques of modern molecular biology have greatly accelerated the process.
Photosynthesis research can show us how to produce new crop varieties that will make better use of the sunlight they absorb. Research in this regard is critical, as recent studies show that agricultural production is stabilizing at a time when demand for food and other agricultural products is increasing rapidly.
Because plants depend on photosynthesis for their survival, which interferes with photosynthesis can kill the plant. This is the basis of several important herbicides, which act by preventing certain important measures of photosynthesis. Understanding the details of photosynthesis can lead to the design of new, highly selective, plant growth-regulating herbicides that have the potential to be environmentally safe (especially for animal life, which does not carry out photosynthesis). In fact, it is possible to develop new crop plants that are immune to specific herbicides, and thus achieve weed control specific to a crop species.
Authors: Val
