Plant metabolism

Plant metabolism

The complex of physical and chemical events of photosynthesis, respiration, and the synthesis and degradation of organic compounds. Photosynthesis produces the substrates for respiration and the starting organic compounds used as building blocks for subsequent biosyntheses of nucleic acids, amino acids, and proteins, carbohydrates and organic acids, lipids, and natural products. See Photorespiration, Photosynthesis, Plant respiration