Evolution of oxygen by plants in relation to biosphere evolution.
The process of water decomposition by plants is discussed in connection with biosphere evolution. This process consists of two parts: water oxidation and oxygen evolution. The origin of the water oxidation process took place after the synthesis of chlorine-type pigments, the structure of which corresponds to a more oxidized state than the bacteriochlorophyll type. The ability of plants to evolve oxygen is the result of a long evolution process. The capability of decomposing water in the lung wave length spectral region by algae and higher plants, which can be only seen under anaerobic conditions was discovered. This mechanism was suggested to be a reflection of a relict form of plant apparatus having operated under ancient, strictly anaerobic, conditions.
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010100:Oxygen