Photosynthesis happens inside specialized organelles called chloroplasts , which are found in the cells of plants and algae. Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll , which captures light energy necessary for photosynthesis
. More specifically, within the chloroplast, photosynthesis occurs in the thylakoid membranes -flattened, disc-shaped structures stacked into grana. The thylakoid membranes house the chlorophyll and the protein complexes involved in the light-dependent reactions. The fluid surrounding the thylakoids, called the stroma , is where the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle) take place
. In plants, chloroplasts are mainly located in the mesophyll cells of leaves, which are the primary sites for photosynthesis. Leaves also have stomata, pores that regulate gas exchange (carbon dioxide intake and oxygen release) essential for photosynthesis
Summary:
- Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts inside plant cells.
- Within chloroplasts, the thylakoid membranes carry out the light-dependent reactions.
- The stroma of chloroplasts is the site of the Calvin cycle.
- Chloroplasts are abundant in the mesophyll cells of leaves, where most photosynthesis happens
