Dissipative process of energy during photosynthesis in a plant is

Correct option is C

Introduction
· Photosynthesis is the primary anabolic process where solar energy is captured and converted into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules.
· Energy dissipation refers to the inevitable loss of energy as heat during biological transformations, ensuring the flow of energy through an ecosystem remains unidirectional.
· In the context of plant physiology, while photosynthesis "builds" energy reserves, other metabolic pathways "spend" or dissipate that energy to maintain cellular life.

Information Booster
· Respiration is the correct answer because it is the fundamental catabolic process that breaks down organic molecules to release energy, much of which is dissipated as heat.
· During this process, chemical energy stored in the form of ATP is used for cellular maintenance, growth, and reproduction, leading to the "dissipation" of energy initially captured by photosynthesis.
· This relationship is often expressed as Net Primary Productivity (NPP) = Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) – Respiration (R).
· The energy lost during respiration accounts for a significant portion of the gross energy assimilated by the plant, typically ranging from 20% to 50% depending on the species and environment.
· High rates of respiration are observed in metabolically active parts of the plant, such as growing root tips and developing fruits.

Additional Knowledge
· Decomposition involves the physical and chemical breakdown of complex organic matter by microorganisms into simpler inorganic substances, but it occurs primarily after the death of the plant rather than as a direct dissipative metabolic process of a living plant during photosynthesis.
· Senescence is the biological aging process characterized by a gradual decline in physiological functions and the degradation of chlorophyll and proteins, leading eventually to the death of plant organs like leaves.
· Mineralization of humus is a soil-based process where organic matter is converted into inorganic forms (minerals) by soil microbes, making nutrients available for plant uptake but not acting as the internal energy dissipation mechanism for the plant's photosynthetic gains.