Photosynthesis and Plant Pigments Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary review flashcards on autotrophs, heterotrophs, chloroplast structures, photosynthesis reactions, light behavior, and plant pigments based on lecture slides.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, mainly using sunlight through photosynthesis (e.g., mango tree, rice plant, coconut palm, algae).

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must obtain food and organic energy from other organisms (e.g., carabao, chicken, human, wild boar).

Chloroplasts

Organelles located in the cytoplasm of plant and algal cells where photosynthesis takes place.

Chlorophyll

The major green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy (strongly in blue-violet and red regions) needed to drive photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria transform light energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds, combining water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to produce food (sugar) and oxygen.

Thylakoid Membrane

The site inside chloroplasts where light-dependent reactions occur, converting $H_2O$ into $O_2$ and producing $ATP$ and $NADPH$.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space inside chloroplasts where the Calvin cycle occurs, converting $CO_2$, $ATP$, and $NADPH$ into $G3P$ and carbohydrates like glucose.

Pigments

Substances that absorb specific wavelengths of light and reflect or transmit others, giving plants and other organisms their color.

Accessory Pigments

Pigments that broaden the range of light wavelengths absorbed beyond what chlorophyll can efficiently capture, while providing photoprotection against excessive light energy.

Carotenoids

Accessory pigments associated with yellow, orange, and red colors that capture additional light energy and provide photoprotection.

Beta-carotene

A carotenoid pigment found in carrots and sweet potatoes that also functions as an antioxidant.

Lutein

A carotenoid pigment found in spinach, kale, and corn that protects plant cells from excessive light.

Zeaxanthin

A carotenoid pigment found in corn, kale, and paprika that supports light absorption and cell protection.

Anthocyanins

Pigments producing red, purple, and blue colors in flowers, fruits, and young leaves that protect tissues from excessive light and oxidative stress.

Cyanidin

An anthocyanin pigment found in berries, grapes, and red onions.

Delphinidin

An anthocyanin pigment found in blueberries and eggplants.

Pelargonidin

An anthocyanin pigment found in strawberries and raspberries.

Phycobilins

Accessory pigments found mainly in cyanobacteria and red algae that allow organisms to absorb wavelengths of light that chlorophyll cannot capture efficiently.

Phycoerythrin

A red-colored phycobilin accessory pigment found in red algae and cyanobacteria.

Phycocyanin

A blue-colored phycobilin accessory pigment found in cyanobacteria and red algae.

Light Absorption

The interaction in which a pigment takes in light energy for use in processes like photosynthesis.

Light Reflection

The interaction in which light bounces off a pigment or material, producing the specific colors observed by human eyes.

Light Transmission

The interaction in which light energy passes directly through a material or organism.

Photon Energy and Wavelength

The general light rule stating that shorter wavelengths (such as violet and blue) contain higher energy per photon, while longer wavelengths (such as red) contain lower energy per photon.