Uses of the sugar produced by photosynthesis
Energy source
The sugar can be broken down in plant cells by the process of respiration to generate ATP. The chemical energy released by respiration can be used by the plant for cellular activities such as protein synthesis or cell division.
Plant energy storage
The sugar produced by photosynthesis can be converted into the sugar glucose. Thousands of glucose molecules can be linked together to form the complex carbohydrate starch. A type of carbohydrate. Plants can turn the glucose produced in photosynthesis into starch for storage, and turn it back into glucose when it is needed for respiration. is stored inside plant cells as grains.
Plant building material
The sugar produced by photosynthesis can be converted into the sugar glucose. Thousands of glucose molecules can be linked together to form the complex carbohydrate cellulose. Cellulose is a very tough molecule that is used to build the cell wall of plant cells.
Production of other types of food
Sugar is an example of a Food belonging to the food group consisting of sugars, starch and cellulose. Carbohydrates are vital for energy in humans and are stored as fat if eaten in excess. In plants, carbohydrates are important for photosynthesis.: it contains the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Plant cells can convert the sugar into another type of energy storage molecule - fat.
Plant cells can also combine sugars with nitrates to make amino acids and use these to produce proteins.
