Which statement best describes a potential benefit of having more than one chlorophyll pigment?

Which statement best describes a potential benefit of having more than one chlorophyll pigment?

• A. Absorb only a single wavelength of light
• B. Absorb more light energy
• C. Increase the plant's height
• D. Decrease photosynthesis

Answer: (B)

Having more than one chlorophyll pigment expands the range of light wavelengths a plant can use for photosynthesis. Different pigments absorb different parts of the spectrum, so when multiple pigments are present, the plant can capture photons that would be missed by a single pigment. In the light-harvesting complexes, these pigments collect light and pass the energy efficiently to the reaction centers where it’s converted into chemical energy. Because more wavelengths are absorbed, more light energy becomes available to drive the light-dependent reactions, increasing the potential rate of photosynthesis under many light conditions. This helps the plant make more ATP and NADPH to power sugar production. This is why absorbing more light energy is the best description of the benefit. The idea of absorbing only a single wavelength isn’t accurate for plants with multiple pigments, having more pigments doesn’t directly make a plant taller, and it wouldn’t decrease photosynthesis.

Having more than one chlorophyll pigment expands the range of light wavelengths a plant can use for photosynthesis. Different pigments absorb different parts of the spectrum, so when multiple pigments are present, the plant can capture photons that would be missed by a single pigment. In the light-harvesting complexes, these pigments collect light and pass the energy efficiently to the reaction centers where it’s converted into chemical energy.

Because more wavelengths are absorbed, more light energy becomes available to drive the light-dependent reactions, increasing the potential rate of photosynthesis under many light conditions. This helps the plant make more ATP and NADPH to power sugar production.

This is why absorbing more light energy is the best description of the benefit. The idea of absorbing only a single wavelength isn’t accurate for plants with multiple pigments, having more pigments doesn’t directly make a plant taller, and it wouldn’t decrease photosynthesis.