Why are plants not black?

Question

Apart from bad luck (i.e. lack of the appropriate mutations), is there a reason why photosynthesising organisms have not evolved the appropriate pigments for absorbing all the available sunlight reaching the Earth's surface? (This, of course, would make them appear black.) Is this a possible area for genetic manipulation, assuming we discover the required techniques - the creation of more photosynthetically efficient organisms?

Answer 1

they only need the enrgy gained from red and blue light leaving green behind. That's why they look green.

Answer 2

Well,
In our spectrum of colours,only red and blue light is obtained by plants as their intensity matches with the energy required for carrying photosynthesis.
This depends on the subtractive method of colours and as plants are'nt capable to absord the green colour ,they just reflect it.
So they look green.

Your suggestion for the creation of black plants is a good one,but friend,i suggest you,why dont forget about all these things and just inhale the precious oxygen which is available from the plants?No colour is needed for it!

Answer 3

black is not in the spectrum, colours we see are reflected (or absorbed can't quite remember which way around it is) anyway black cannot be reflected because it doesn't exist in the prism, so it is not seen. i think green is the only colour not absorbed, so it is sent 'back' as the other colours are used, that's why plants look green.


sorry i just read the full question (this is why i always fail exams , not taking in the info properly). In answer, yeah i think you could be right, perhaps you could study methods.

Answer 4

this is in basic terms that a black version of chlorophyll has on no account progressed. Chlorophyll and photosynthesis are historical mechanisms, which arose very early in existence in the international (they arose earlier cardio respiratory, for example, because of the fact till there exchange into photosynthesis, there exchange into no oxygen interior the ambience). It progressed, and grew to alter into standard a protracted time in the past, and a distinctive mechanism has on no account arisen. usually, evolution has "fantastic-tuned" photosynthesis for various circumstances, yet chlorophyll-based photosynthesis remains the hassle-unfastened mechanism for all vegetation and photosynthetic organisms everywhere. Evolving a sparkling, totally distinctive sort of photosynthesis could require "going decrease back to the drafting board", evolutionarily conversing, and any those with any such trait could in all probability no longer actual be as useful as present vegetation - and so would not out-compete them.

Answer 5

I think that this is one of the best ideas because black colour absorbs almost all the things(nutrients)as compared to green colour.
So it will surely be a new revolution in genetics.

Good mind dude,best of luck if you're going to invent this.

Answer 6

Thats an interesting question, my guess would be that absorption of that much energy would heat the leaves damaging them and resulting in a reduction in the efficiency of their enzymes.

Answer 7

Because chlorophyll only reflects the color green and absorbs all the rest

Answer 8

They use a green pigment chlorophyll as part of their process of taking energy from light (photosynthesis). That is why all that green is there exposed to light.

Answer 9

dont u think that if it was more efficient then plants would adapt that way naturally, and that black plants would already exist?are there black plants,(i know there are black pants in debenhams!!)?very interesting idea though!

Answer 10

Green is the color not absorbed, that's why they look green.