Gaseous Exchange in Plant

Gaseous Exchange

1. Respiration

The term respiration was coined by Pepys (1966). Respiration is a biological process in which oxidation of various food substances like carbohydrates, proteins and fats take place and as a result of this, energy is produced where O₂ is taken in and CO₂ is liberated. The organic substances which are oxidised during respiration are called respiratory substrates. Among these, glucose is the commonest respiratory substrate. Breaking of C-C bonds of complex organic compounds through oxidation within the cells leads to energy release. The energy released during respiration is stored in the form of ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate) as well as liberated heat. Respiration occurs in all the living cells of organisms. The overall process of respiration corresponds to a reversal of photosynthesis.

 C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy   (686 K cal or 2868 KJ)

 Depending upon the nature of respiratory substrate, Blackman divided respiration into,

1.           Floating respiration

2.           Protoplasmic respiration

When carbohydrate or fat or organic acid serves as respiratory substrate and it is called floating respiration. It is a common mode of respiration and does not produce any toxic product. Whereas respiration utilizing protein as a respiratory substrate, it is called protoplasmic respiration. Protoplasmic respiration is rare and it depletes structural and functional proteins of protoplasm and liberates toxic ammonia.

2. Compensation point

At dawn and dusk the intensity of light is low. The point at which CO₂ released in respiration is exactly compensated by CO₂ fixed in photosynthesis that means no net gaseous exchange takes place, it is called compensation point. At this moment, the amount of oxygen released from photosynthesis is equal to the amount of oxygen utilized in respiration. 

The two common factors associated with compensation point are CO ₂ and light (Figure 14.2) . Based on this there are two types of compensation point. They are CO₂ compensation point and light compensation point. C₃ plants have compensation points ranging from 40-60 ppm (parts per million) CO₂ while those of C₄ plants ranges from 1-5 ppm CO₂.