CpSci 101 - MODULE 1 - Lesson 3 - Respiration

Principles of Crop Science
LESSON 3. Respiration
Two of the most important processes carried out by green plants are
photosynthesis and respiration. Photosynthesis, which takes place in the chloroplast,
is constructive and reductive, while respiration, which takes place in mitochondria, is
degradative and oxidative. Respiration can be defined as an enzyme-catalyzed
reaction involving the transformation of organic substrate into carbon dioxide and
water accompanied by the release of energy.
The overall process of respiration can be expressed by the equation:
2.1. Four stages of aerobic respiration

The primary purpose of respiration is to supply the energy (ATP) needed for the
growth and maintenance of the plant. Plants undergo aerobic respiration (with the
presence of oxygen) that consists of four distinct stages: 1) Glycolysis; 2) Link
Reaction; 3) Krebs Cycle; and 4) Oxidative phosphorylation (Figure 14). Glucose is the
starting point for respiration.
Figure 14. Overview of Aerobic Respiration
2.1.a. Glycolysis (Greek words glykos, “sugar,” and lysis, “splitting”) occurs in the
cytoplasm. It involves the breaking down of glucose into pyruvic acid. In a series of
reactions two, three carbon sugar phosphate are produced from one, six-carbon
glucose molecule. The sugar phosphates are then converted to pyruvic acid (a
pyruvate), accompanied by the production of ATP and the reduction of NAD to NADH.
In effect, one glucose molecule is converted into two molecules of pyruvic acid
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(Figure 15). The formation of ATP by the enzymatic transfer of a phosphate group
from a metabolic intermediate to ADP is called substrate-level phosphorylation.
A net production of 2 ATPs and 2 NADH are produced in this process.
Figure 15. Flow chart of Glycolysis
2.1.b. Link Reaction (formation of acetyl coenzyme A) 2.1.c. Krebs Cycle (also
known as The Citric Acid cycle). These two reactions occurs at the matrix of
mitochondria. Pyruvic acids produced in the cytosol during glycolysis are imported
into the mitochondrial matrix which is the site of Krebs cycle. Pyruvic acid is first
oxidized to acetyl co-enzyme A (Figure 16) then series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions
involved in Krebs cycle (Figure 17.)
For every glucose molecule (2
pyruvic acids) entering the
mitochondrion, the Krebs cycle
generates 6 NADH and 2 FADH, and
yield 2 ATP via substrate level
phosphorylation.
Figure 16. The Link Reaction
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Figure 17. Diagram of the Krebs Cycle
2.1.d. Oxidative Phosphorylation (Electron Transport Chain/ETC) happens at the

inner mitochondrial membrane. NADH (from glycolysis and Krebs cycle) and FADH,
(from Krebs cycle) are oxidized to yield ATP. These ATPs are generated in ETS via
oxidative phosphorylation (Figure 18).
Figure 18. Overview of the oxidative phosphorylation
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Aerobic respiration results in the complete oxidation of pyruvic acid to CO2

and water. At the end of the process, a net yield of 36 ATPs is produced from one
molecule of glucose which is common to most organisms.
2.2. Factors Affecting Respiration

2.2.a. Age and Tissue Type. Large, young tissues respire more strongly
than old. The same with developing tissues that respire more than mature one.
Also, tissues undergoing metabolic processes (active parts) respire more than
resting/dormant tissues. Moreover, seeds with higher moisture content respire
more than seeds with drier tissues
2.2.b. Temperature. Within the range of 0ºC to 35°C, the respiration rate
increases about two to three times for each 10ºC rise. The effect of
temperature on respiration is an important factor in the storage of some crops.
Since respiration is a degradative process, it should be slowed down/delayed as
quickly and as completely as possible to prolong shelf life (e.g. refrigerate the
product)
2.2.c. Oxygen concentration. Presence of oxygen is essential for oxidative

metabolism. With other factors being constant and not limiting, the rate of
respiration decreases as oxygen concentration decreases. Lowering the oxygen
concentration by increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide or nitrogen is
useful in storing certain fruit and vegetables crops. This modified storage
atmosphere slows down rapid respiration.
2.2.d. Light. Plants that grown in low light intensities exhibit lower
respiration rates. Low light reduces photosynthesis, thus decreasing the
amount of carbohydrates available for respiration.
Respiration is the source of energy for all life processes. Since it depends on
products of photosynthesis, it is critical that a desirable relationship between them
be maintained for proper growth and development of plants of food is broken down
faster that it manufactures, plant growth will be hampered. This imbalance may
cause the eventual death of certain plants when they are grown in the shade,
whereas light is required for photosynthesis, it is not required for respiration, hence
the latter proceeds even in shade. Fortunately, photosynthesis generally occurs at a
higher rate than respiration, such that there are excess photosynthates for growth
and development of plant. It is estimates that a photosynthetic rate of about 8 to 10
times higher than the respiration rate is required for good production of crops.
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Table 2. Comparison of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration
Items Photosynthesis Aerobic Respiration
Raw materials CO2 and H2O C6H12O6 and O2
End products C6H12O6 and O2 CO2 and H2O
Plant cells that have these Plant cells that contain All plant cells
process chlorophyll
Parts of cell involved Chloroplast Cytoplasm and

mitochondrion
Pathway of energy Light energy -> Energy stored in fuel

NADPH/ATP -> energy molecules -> NADH/ATP -
stored in carbohydrate > energy for work in cell
molecules
Suggested instructional videos to watch:

● Aerobic Respiration Overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haRUcz6wM8g&feature=share&fbclid=I
wAR2k4JZjw1sJFJCzWE9cSP5-7sDg0AMVjVRuBxe111RhF7P7Xi6cdAw0954
● Glycolysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfuPgB535k&feature=share&fbclid=Iw
AR2rdrK-yApLsck98pfyx2blMbtqmR7DE6pYY8o89hRTRJYsQMZhpkadCkY
● Link Reaction and Krebs Cycle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bso_QAgGs3w&feature=share&fbclid=I
wAR2rdrK-yApLsck98pfyx2blMbtqmR7DE6pYY8o89hRTRJYsQMZhpkadCkY
● Oxidative Phosphorylation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap_oelyqHRU&feature=share&fbclid=Iw
AR3Jt8V7L5U0oZLnt2IxnpcxT9fpfmne9pcZIkPOuQ10hRkE0jVeOHtdR-c
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Principles of Crop Science

2.1. Four stages of aerobic respiration

Figure 14. Overview of Aerobic Respiration

Figure 15. Flow chart of Glycolysis

Figure 16. The Link Reaction

Figure 17. Diagram of the Krebs Cycle

2.1.d. Oxidative Phosphorylation (Electron Transport Chain/ETC) happens at the

Figure 18. Overview of the oxidative phosphorylation

Aerobic respiration results in the complete oxidation of pyruvic acid to CO2

2.2. Factors Affecting Respiration

2.2.c. Oxygen concentration. Presence of oxygen is essential for oxidative

Table 2. Comparison of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration

Items Photosynthesis Aerobic Respiration

Raw materials CO2 and H2O C6H12O6 and O2

End products C6H12O6 and O2 CO2 and H2O

Parts of cell involved Chloroplast Cytoplasm and

Pathway of energy Light energy -> Energy stored in fuel

Suggested instructional videos to watch:

● Link Reaction and Krebs Cycle

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