Role of Photosynthesis & Iron in Plants

Plants require iron and photosynthetic products to survive.

During photosynthesis, plants produce the sugars they need to survive and oxygen as a byproduct. Besides these sugars, plants also need minerals to thrive, including iron. Lack of iron and sugars could kill plants.

Energy

Like all living organisms, plants require energy to live. Plants use the sugars produced by photosynthesis to obtain energy. With or without the presence of oxygen, plants break down sugars such as glucose into energy.

Growth

Plants use the sugars produced during photosynthesis to form new cells. Cellulose, which makes up the cell walls, consists of sugar molecules. Sugar molecules also make up other substances such as starch and hemicellulose.

Iron

Iron provides plants with color, size and vigor. When a plant gets insufficient iron, its leaves turn yellowish, whitish or reddish with brown areas, and new leaves grow to be small. Leaves could drop, twigs could die back, the plant's growth is stunted and the entire plant could die.

References

• Georgia State University: Sugars
• University of Michigan: The Cell, Respiration and Photosynthesis
• University of Kentucky: Iron Deficiency of Landscape Plants