Describe the difference between the absorption spectrum and the action spectrum of a plant (photosynthesis)
The absorption spectrum is the rate of absorption at different wavelengths of light by the different light absorbing pigments present. Each pigment absorbs different wavelengths of light to increase overall absorption but yellow/green wavelengths are absorbed poorly (due to reflection)whilst red and blue wavelengths are absorbed in high quantities. The action spectrum shows the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths of light and is closely correlated to absorption spectrum but with a decline in rate due to not all light absorbed being used in photosynthesis and/or light missing leaf/chloroplast
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