Why do the cells of photosynthetic organisms contain accessory pigments?
A)Accessory pigments provide a backup source of energy if the main pigment type fails.
B)Accessory pigments direct light toward the primary pigment.
C)Accessory pigments optimize the amount of energy that can be harvested in specific environments.
D)Accessory pigments provide structural support for the primary pigments.
E)Accessory pigments allow photosynthesis to occur at any time of the day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Accessory pigments such as carotenoids and phycobilins increase the range of wavelengths of light that can be absorbed, allowing photosynthetic organisms to optimize the amount of energy that can be harvested in specific environments. This is particularly important in environments with limited light availability or that have a high proportion of light in certain wavelengths, such as blue or green light. Accessory pigments do not provide backup energy sources, direct light toward primary pigments, provide structural support for primary pigments, or allow photosynthesis to occur at any time of the day.

Why Do the Cells of Photosynthetic Organisms Contain Accessory Pigments