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From: BRUC%MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Efficiency of photosynthesis
Message-ID: <12726@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Aug-84 23:10:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12726
Posted: Wed Aug 22 23:10:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Aug-84 06:04:02 EDT
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From:  Robert E. Bruccoleri <BRUC @ MIT-MC>

Photosynthesis can be quite efficient. Under ideal conditions, ratios
of energy of combustion of plant products to incident solar energy of
0.3 have been achieved. Rubber plants can make latex at an efficiency
of about 15% (from I. Tinoco, K. Sauer, and J. C. Wang, Physical
Chemistry, p. 324). On the other hand, I recall (although I couldn't
find the source) that many plants have much lower efficiencies of
carbon fixation (around 1 to 2%).

Bob Bruccoleri