Question for botanists, or anyone who knows, does plant life consume CO2 in the dark?

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by burritos, Oct 28, 2008.

  1. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    Tried googling, but couldn't get anything substantive. My recollection from high school plant biochemistry is limited to the electron transport system. I recall light + CO2 +H2O mixing and resulting in O2 and CH products. So when it's night time, no CO2 is being consumed, even in large jungles like the amazon correct?
     
    #1 burritos, Oct 28, 2008
  2. thedutchtouch

    thedutchtouch prius is my SUV

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    typically plants take in CO2 during the day during photosynthesis, and actually release some during the night (respiration).

    some plants, however, can undergo levels of photosynthesis in the dark, using gas exchange techniques (like opening their stoma to exchange gasses)

    so to answer your question, depending on the plant, yes and no.
     
    #2 thedutchtouch, Oct 28, 2008
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Are the plants actually consuming the CO2 in the dark, or just stockpiling it until there is enough light to power its conversion into sugars?
     
    #3 Trollbait, Oct 28, 2008
  4. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    #4 Codyroo, Oct 28, 2008
  5. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Codyroo's link answers the question. Only CAM plants do dark uptake. The leaf tissues actually become more acidic through the night. I stayed up all night with a pH meter and Waring (TM) blender and confirmed this once. Ah, memories...
     
    #5 tochatihu, Oct 29, 2008
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    wow. that's graduate student level insanity! :D
     
    #6 galaxee, Oct 29, 2008
  7. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Yes, measuring the Agave plant :D
     
    #7 Codyroo, Nov 1, 2008
  8. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Yes there were students involved, and one unlucky yucca. If you want tequila from the roots of an Agave, you must first ferment it to pulque, and then distill. The yucca leaves are not as sugary, so don't expect good results from that.

    The moth larva goes in last, like a martini olive.
     
    #8 tochatihu, Nov 2, 2008
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