If two plants have different-colored leaves,
A) their absorption spectra will match, but their action spectra may differ.
B) their action spectra may match, but their absorption spectra will differ.
C) their absorption spectra and their action spectra will differ.
D) their absorption spectra and their action spectra will be the same.
E) the outcome is unpredictable because a plant's action spectra cannot be reliably determined.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Absorption spectra determine the wavelengths of light that a pigment absorbs, while action spectra reveal which wavelengths are most effective in promoting a particular biological process. Thus, two plants with different-colored leaves may have different pigments that absorb different wavelengths of light, leading to different absorption spectra. However, if the plants share the same biological process that is influenced by light, their action spectra may overlap even though their absorption spectra do not. Therefore, option B is the most accurate.

If Two Plants Have Different-Colored Leaves