Q15 / 160 · JIPMER 2005 · Botany

Energy transfer in photosynthesis occurs as

  • A
    Phycoerythrin $\rightarrow$ Phycocyanin $\rightarrow$ Carotenoid $\rightarrow$ Chlorophyll $a$
  • B
    Chlorophyll $b \rightarrow$ Carotenoid $\rightarrow$ Phycoerythrin $\rightarrow$ Chlorophyll $a$
  • Correct answer
    C
    Phycocyanin $\rightarrow$ Phycoerythrin $\rightarrow$ Carotenoid $\rightarrow$ Chlorophyll $a$
  • D
    Chlorophyll $b \rightarrow$ Carotenoid $\rightarrow$ Phycocyanin $\rightarrow$ Chlorophyll $a$

Solution

Photosynthetic pigments mainly occur on thylakoid membranes. These are major pigments like chlorophylls and accessory pigments like phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and carotenoids. The accessory pigments absorb light energy of various wavelength and get excited and transfer the energy to chlorophyll-a molecule through electron spin resonance. Order of energy transfer in photosynthesis occur as phycocyanin followed by phycoerythrin followed by carotenoids and finally to chlorophylls.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'C'.

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