Jordan May

Bio 1107L
GLA: Alex Mela
Photosynthesis Post Lab
Experiment: This week we conducted an experiment to measure the rate of oxygen from
the %O2 vs. the time response curve in the units of %O2 produced/amount of leaf tissue
used/minute. We tested both the rate of oxygen under no specific colored light as well as it under
a red filter. The reason our group decided to choose the variable of a red filter is because plants
use light as an energy source for photosynthesis and as an environmental signal, and respond to
its intensity, wavelength, and direction (Muneer et al., 2014), and given that information, it is
important to test the effects of each color individually so that we may be able to use the benefits
of things like the red light filter to better grow our plants in the future. Our mini study was
important in determining these effects because along with other scientists testing the effects of
red lights through measuring things like photon flux density, we can also measure the rate at
which oxygen is being given off by the plant. Since photosynthesis and its ability to supply
oxygen to us is so vital, our experiment was extremely important in measuring its rate.
It is important to take note of why we are specifically testing plants under red lights in the
first place. Red lights actually have incredible benefits to be added to the photosynthesis process.
Red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a potential light source for growing plants in spaceflight
systems because of their safety, small mass and volume, wavelength specificity, and longevity.
(Goins et al., 1997). Plants respond very differently to different wavelengths and its important to
take advantage of that. Our hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment was that the plant
would indeed produce oxygen at a quicker rate under the red filter than it would under the
natural light without a filter. We came to this prediction based on our current knowledge of

photosynthesis and how its affected at different wavelengths through colors. We know that
leaves are already green due to the fact that green is actually the color being reflected by them,
not absorbed. We also know that in another study done using red LED lights instead of filters, it
was found that red LEDs emit a narrow spectrum of light (660 nm with 25 nm bandwidth at half
peak height) that is close to the maximum absorbance for both chlorophyll and phytochromes
(Goins et al., 1997). This proves that red light does indeed have a major effect on the process of
photosynthesis. In this same study, data is provided (Fig. 1) showing that under red LED lights,
in comparison to the plants grown under normal daylight fluorescent lights, there was far more
energy present in regards to spectral photon flux (G
The methods we used for our own experiment in class included first setting up the
apparatus that would be linked to a computer to electronically measure the rate of oxygen being
emitted by our plant. We begin by inflating a bag with our own carbon dioxide form our breath.
This is going to be pumped to our plant with added pressure in order to increase the rate of
photosynthesis. We then placed our leaf carefully inside the leaf chamber while it is still attached
to the rest of the plant. We then position the light fixture that is a part of the apparatus roughly
11cm above the chamber. We then seal the chamber and are careful to not over tighten the screws
on the corners. Next step is to run the PhotoLab program on the computer which will then
measure the rate of oxygen being produced as we squeeze carbon dioxide from our inflated bag
into the chamber with the plant. The program will display a graph that is % oxygen vs. time with
another graph that is light intensity (mol quanta/m^2/s) vs. time.
To run the program on the computer we clicked the button labeled Collect and this is when we
are able to squeeze the bag filled with carbon dioxide and open the tubing linked to the chamber
to allow the carbon dioxide to flow to the leaf. Its important to note that the initial oxygen level

should read as 20.9%. Squeeze the bag for roughly 20 seconds and then detach the tubing form
the chamber and close the gas ports. Place a beaker of water on the chamber so that the plant
does not overheat under the light fixture. Replace the water in the beaker every 15 minutes or so
and collect your data for 30-45 minutes.
Since the rate of photosynthesis is normalized to surface area, the next step is to remove
the beaker of water and the leaf from the chamber. The sealing material from the chamber should
leave markings on the leaf to indicate which parts youll need to measure. Place a acetate grid on
top of the leaf and count the interstices that are prevalent on the leaf tissue. It is important to
mention that interstices that fall exactly on the leaf margin are given a value of .5 and after
summing up the results you must divide that number by 4. These measurements must be used in
the following calculations. These instructions are followed both for a trial with and for a trial
without a red filter on top of the chamber.
After obtaining the previous measurements from the leaf, next we must calculate the
photosynthetic rate of your leaf. To do this you must take the given slope found by your graph at
3 main points, the initial phase, middle phase, and the final phase. Calculations then include
taking these slopes and multiplying them by the number 10,000, dividing this result by [)273+22
degrees Celsius)/2730, and then taking this final answer and dividing it by the number 22.413.
This calculation will yield you a result of your amount of oxygen produced per liter of air in the
chamber per minute. The last calculation is taking the number we found previously and
multiplying it by .047 and then dividing that by the surface area of the leaf. These new results
will be your photosynthetic rates. Repeat these calculations for the 3 phases in both experimental
runs.

Our results in this experiment concluded that indeed the photosynthetic rate was shorter
and quicker in the experimental runs done with a red filter on the leaf chamber. Based on these
results from our data (provided in the chart below), we can conclude that red light being involved
in the photosynthetic process can greatly increase its rate of oxygen output and be helpful in
growing plants in the future. In regards to our interests in how plants can be grown efficiently in
different environments such as spaceflight systems, we can conclude that it might be very
beneficial for us to introduce red light to those growing systems to produce oxygen as a quicker
rate where it is needed more in a specific oxygen-deficient environment.
Results:
Experimental Run with no Red Filter
Data Interval Selected
(minutes)
Initial Phase
Middle Phase
Final Phase

M(slope)(%O2/min)

Photosynthetic Rate

-3.634
.07087
.1036

(molO2.m^2/min)
199.3
3.888
5.684

Experimental Run with Red Filter

M(slope)(%O2/min)

Photosynthetic Rate

4.572
.04775
.08760

(molO2.m^2/min)
-499.24
4.67
8.61

References:
1. Goins, G.D., Yorio, N.C, Sanwo, M.M., and Brown, C.S., 1997. Photomorphogenesis,
photosynthesis, and seed yield of wheat plants grown under red light-emitting
diodes(LEDs) with and without supplemental blue lighting. Journal of Experimental
Botany, Vol. 48, No. 312, pp. 1407-141.
2. Muneer S., Kim E.J., Park J.S., and Lee J.H., 2014. Influence of Green, Red and Blue
Light Emitting Diodes on Multiprotein Complex Proteins and Photosynthetic Activity
under Different Light Intensities in Lettuce Leaves (Lactuca sativa L.). Int. J. Mol.
Sci.Vol.,15 pp: 4657-4670.