Question

Mrs. Wade (who is always right, just ask her), is caring for her son's prize tomato plants while he attends a Tomatologist Conference. She brings them into the house due to a pending ice storm and places them in a dark room. She provides plenty of water and soil nutrients, but does not turn on the lights to conserve energy. Which of the following is most likely to occur first? a Fermentation will begin in the chloroplasts of the leaf cells. b Calvin cycle will continue fas long as the products from the light dependent cycle and CO2 are available. c Photosynthesis will end abruptly, as Mrs. Wade is a plant murderer. d Light dependent cycle will continue at the same rate with adequate water and nutrients.

Answer 1

The most likely occurrence in this scenario is c: Photosynthesis will end abruptly, as Mrs. Wade is a plant murderer.

Here's the reasoning:

Photosynthesis requires light for the light-dependent reactions to occur. In the absence of light, these reactions cannot take place, leading to the cessation of the entire photosynthetic process. Even though Mrs. Wade has provided water and soil nutrients, without light, the chloroplasts cannot generate the ATP and NADPH necessary for the Calvin cycle. As a result, the overall process of photosynthesis will stop, affecting the health of the plants over time.

The other options are less likely:

• a: Fermentation does not occur in chloroplasts, as that process is anaerobic and occurs in the cytoplasm under low oxygen conditions, not typically in the chloroplasts of the plant cells.
• b: The Calvin cycle cannot continue without the products from the light-dependent reactions.
• d: The light-dependent cycle cannot continue at all without light, regardless of water and nutrients.

Thus, photosynthesis will stop, indicating a detrimental situation for the plants.