Respiration in Plants

What is Respiration in Plants?

Plant cells respire continuously, by day and by night, in every living cell including roots, stems, leaves and flowers. Respiration and photosynthesis are different processes: photosynthesis requires suitable light and occurs only in cells containing chlorophyll, whereas respiration is enzyme-controlled and does not stop when photosynthesis begins. What changes with light is the net gas exchange of the plant: in darkness only respiration occurs so carbon dioxide is released overall, while in bright light photosynthesis is faster than respiration so oxygen is released overall.

This definition is part of the Respiration chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.

Concepts related to Respiration in Plants

• Photosynthesis
• net gas exchange
• Chlorophyll