1) Influence of temperature on the rate of the dark reaction of photosynthesis was studied under conditions of limited CO
2 supply (CO
2 concentration: 1.0×10
-6 mol/lit.) and of CO
2 saturation at two pH values, 4.6 and 7.0.
2) By the analyses of results obtained, it was shown that the dark reaction under the condition of CO
2 saturation is composed of two intermediary reactions, the activation energy of which were found to be, independent of the hydrogen ion concentration, 6 and 27kcal. respectively.
3) Of these two reaction steps, the one with smaller activation energy is retarded by increase of hydrogen ion concentration, while the other is practically insensitive to pH, at least in the region of pH 4.6-7.0.
4) The dark reaction observed under the condition of limited CO
2 supply could also be analysed into two apparent intermediary steps with the activation energy of 0 and 20kcal respectively. By detailed analyses and comparison with the results obtained in the experiment with CO
2 saturation, however, it was inferred that the dark reaction under the condition of limited CO
2 supply may be composed of three intermediate steps, of which only one, with the apparent activation energy 0, is dependent for its velocity upon the CO
2 concentration, while the other two are the same as those observed under CO
2 saturated condition.
5) Considering the very small activation energy of the CO
2-dependent reaction step, it was concluded that the rate of the dark reaction, at least with
Chlorella and under the conditions used in the present experiment, is not limited by the diffusion process of CO
2.
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