WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GLUCOSE PRODUCED DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
- Glucose is used up by actively respiring cells during respiration to release energy.
- In the actively growing root tips and shoot tips, glucose is converted into cellulose to be used for making the cell wall needed for growth of the newly divided cells.
- Together with nitrates, sulphates and phosphates, glucose are used in the synthesis of amino acids which combined to form proteins which are converted into new protoplasm within the cells. Some of these newly synthesized proteins may be used to synthesize enzymes (Some of these proteins are also send to the storage organs for storage).
- Some of the glucose may be converted to sucrose in the storage organs like the seeds and fruits as well as the bulbs and tubers (like onion bulbs and potato tubers). Some of the glucose combined to form starch and this starch is then stored in the storage organs (Note: the potato tuber stores starch)
Onion Bulb
Potato Tuber
