Question

What would happen if a plant was placed in the dark for one week with all other necessary requirements for photosynthesis to occur

Answer 1

What do you think would happen?

Answer 2

Well, by context I obviously don't know.The plant would maybe grow, but what other effects are there to the plant?

Answer 3

Can the plant do photosynthesis? How does a plant get energy to grow if it can't do photosynthesis?

Answer 4

I actually have no idea, so you're saying the plant can't grow? As an additional question what if the plant was grown first then placed in a dark place for a week?

Answer 5

Yes, a plant can't grow in the dark. It can respire using it's stored energy reserves (starch), and it can transpire, but it can't grow (add net dry mass or organic carbon) since it can't photosynthesize. A friend of mine used this track to transport his house plants across the country - he put them in black plastic bags and they survived the 2-week trip because they basically shut down to minimal respiration and transpiration while in the dark. Much longer in the dark, the leaves would grow pale and drop. But for a week, not much will happen.

Answer 6

I see, so summing it up it will use up the starch but in turn not grow because there's no sunlight, right?

Answer 7

Right.

Answer 8

Awesome, thanks